Aussie Phone Brokers - Telecommunications Glossary

'N' Glossary Terms

NAM - Number Assignment Module
CDMA phones:  Holds the ESN (serial number of the handset) and the assigned mobile phone number.

 
NAP - Network Access Point
Internet infrastructure element where IAPs connect to other IAPs, or where IAPs connect to their ISPs.  NAPs are major connection nodes of the Internet.  Often a point of congestion, an efficient NAP leads to a faster service.

 
Narrowband
As compared to Broadband, which uses a broad bandwidth for signal transmission, Narrowband uses a much narrower bandwidth and is therefore unable to carry information at broadband rates.

 
National Broadband Strategy
Policy framework for broadband development in Australia, agreed by all levels of government.  Overseen by the National Broadband Strategy Implementation Group.

 
NCF - National Communications Fund
Former federal telecommunications funding program for the promotion of high-speed telecommunications networks to deliver education and health services in regional Australia.

 
NDD - National Direct Dialling
Term used for both landline calls and mobile calls.  Landline:  See STD.  Mobiles:  Any call to a domestic fixed line which is not a service number or premium number.

 
Neighbourhood Call
No longer offered.  Subset of Local Calls, a neighbourhood call was made within a local exchange area and was cheaper than a standard local call.

 
NetAlert
NetAlert is a not-for-profit Internet safety advisory body established in late 1999 by the Australian government to provide independent advice and education on managing access to online content.

 
Network
Telecommunications:  Network is a telecommunications connections infrastructure which enables telecommunications between two or more devices.  Computers:  Network is a data communications connections infrastructure between three or more computers.

 
New Service
Mobiles:  New Service is the connection of a new mobile phone to a network, with a new number applied.  Porting of a service to a new carrier is not considered a new service.  Landlines:  New Service is the new connection between a customer's premises and the local exchange.  Activating an in-place number is not considered a new service even though that customer may be new.  A new service will involve at least some physical work between premises and exchange.  Sometimes a new service will involve trenching a new group of copper lines onto the premises site.

 
NFF - National Farmers' Federation
Established in 1979, NFF is the voice of Australian farmers in the federal political arena.  The Federation's key priorities are the broad national issues such as land and water resource security, industrial relations, trade, farm costs, telecommunications, sustainable agriculture and the environment.

 
No Answer Transfer
Diversion of an unanswered call to another number or a message service.  The number of rings before a call diverts can be set by the service provider.  See also Call Divert.

 
No Service
A mobile phone which is out of range of its service provider's coverage area (and any associated roaming service providers' coverage areas also) is said to be in a No Service area.  Remote regional areas are No Service areas for most providers.  See also Coverage Maps, for No Service areas from each mobile carrier.

 
NOIE - National Office for the Information Economy
Discontinued government organisation.  On 8 April 2004, the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) was established, replacing the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE).  Some of the broader policy, research and programs were transferred to the Office for the Information Economy in the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA).

 
Nominated Carrier
A carrier in respect of whom a nominated career declaration is in force under section 81 Telecommunications Act 1997.

 
NRF - Network Reliability Framework
Each USO provider is required to report regularly to the ACMA (incorporates the former the ACA) on the performance of its network at a the FSA, ESA and individual phone services level. The ACMA may issue directions requiring the USO provider to remedy individual services.

 
NRS - National Relay Service
A telephone access service for communications to or from hearing or speech impaired individuals.  Relay may be through a live operator or through direct means such as TTY services.  See also ACE.

 
Number Portability
The ability for a customer to retain their existing phone number when changing service providers.  Term applies to both Local Number Portability and Mobile Number Portability.

 
NUSC - Net Universal Service Cost
Retrievable cost of a carrier providing access to the standard telephone service and payphones.  The carrier is required to submit a claim to the ACA (now ACMA) for these NUSCs in order to be reimbursed.  The calculations examine operating and capital costs (including the opportunity cost of capital) for the loss-making services, less any revenue received for those services.

 

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  

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