Telecommunications Definitions, ICT Definitions and Phone Industry Glossary  

Aussie Phone Brokers - Telecommunications Glossary

'E' Glossary Terms

EAP - Extension Authentication Protocol

Designed to extend the PPP (Point to Point Protocol), the EAP incorporates traditional passwords, token keys, digital certificates and public-key authentications.

 

Economy Rate

Rate plan feature from Service Providers.  Economy rates are often used for weekend periods.  See also Peak Rates and Off-Peak Rates.

 

EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution)

An interim step between GPRS (EDGE was also called EGPRS) EDGE is capable of data transfer speeds of up to 384 Kbps.  Superseded by current 3G technology.

 

E-mail - Electronic Mail

Mail composed and transmitted on a computer system or network.  Email is technically merely text, but multimedia attachments often accompany it.

 

Emergency Numbers

Telephone numbers for the Emergency Services: Police, Fire & Ambulance.  These numbers are free to call and should only be used in situations which are life threatening or there is imminent risk to either property or the environment.
   Related:  000 - Emergency,  106 - Emergency for TTY,  112 - Emergency for Mobiles

 

EMR - Electromagnetic Radiation

Energy transfer in the form of electric and magnetic field fluctuations. These waves or particles propagate through space at the speed of light.

 

EMS - Electromagnetic Spectrum

Term for the entire range of electromagnetic radiation types.  The spectrum is divided into seven sections; from the longest wavelengths to the shortest: radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma ray radiation.  Mobile phones operate in the radio section.

 

EMS - Electronic Messaging System

Extension of SMS, allows sending/receiving of ringtones and other audio files, pictures, animations, and formatted text.

 

Encryption

The process of encoding data.  Data is often encrypted before it is transmitted over an unsecured medium, then decrypted at its destination using a process or key for that purpose.

 

ESA - Exchange Service Area

The area serviced by a local phone exchange.  These are often used when describing 1300, 13 or 1800 number call routing.

 

ESN - Electronic Serial Number

The unique hexadecimal serial number of a CDMA phone (and previously, analog mobile phones).  The ESN is registered with a service provider as part of a mobile's activation process.  See also IMEI.

 

ETC - Early Termination Charge

The amount charged by a service provider for the early termination of a contract.  For Mobiles, this is usually the number of months remaining on the contract multiplied by the minimum monthly commitment of that contract.  For Landlines, this is often the repayment of any previously granted bonuses and the payment of a nominated monthly amount multiplied by the remaining months of the contract period.  Also called a Cancellation Fee, Contract Cancellation Fee, Contract Termination Charges, etc.

 

Ethernet

Ethernet is the most widely-installed local area network (LAN) protocol.  Officially, Ethernet (at up to 10Mbps) and Fast Ethernet (at up to 100Mbps) are the two grades.  Now the term Ethernet generally refers to Fast Ethernet, due to this being the prevalent type used.  Ethernet is generally transferred using CAT-5 or CAT-5e cables ('the blue computer cables'), or over a wireless LAN link.

 

Exchange

Premises for the switching equipment which allows for connection of calls.  Switching occurs for local, STD, calls to mobiles and international calling.  Also called, Telephone Exchange.

 

Extended Zones Agreement

Special regional zone which allows for untimed local calls to neighbouring zones and to a community service town various community services are accessed.

 

External IP Address

IP address of a computer on an external network - most commonly the Internet.  Computers use IP addresses to identify one another.  Websites are held on servers, and are assigned a unique IP address. Mail servers also have a unique IP address.  External IP addresses may also be called Public IP addresses.

 

These pages contains commonly used terms and their definitions for the Australian telecommunications industry.  The terms found here refer to the ICT industry (Information and Communication Technology), IT industry (Information Technology) and the general Telecommunications Industry - including Mobile Telecommunications, Fixed Line services and IP telecommunications.

Please use the index below:

  0-9  :  A  :  B  :  C  :  D  :  E  :  F  :  G  :  H  :  I  :  J  :  K  :  L  :  M
 :  N  :  O  :  P  :  Q  :  R  :  S  :  T  :  U  :  V  :  W  :  X  :  Y  :  Z