Telecommunications Definitions, ICT Definitions and Phone Industry Glossary  

Aussie Phone Brokers - Telecommunications Glossary

'P' Glossary Terms

PABX - Private Automatic Branch Exchange

A phone system which allows not only onsite/offsite connections (eg. incoming and outgoing calls) but also onsite/onsite connections (eg. calls to extensions, call transfers, etc.).  A PABX (sometimes called a PBX) is the actual phone system box.  The handsets are the extensions.  Common features of a PABX are: extension dialling, call transfer, call holding, conference calling, DID (Direct In Dialling), CND (Calling Number Display) overwriting, CID (Caller ID) pass-through, and LCR (Least Cost Routing).  PABXs superseded KTSs (Key Telephone Systems).

 

Packet Networks

Usually IP networks, data travels over the communications links as data packets.  This enables links to be shared (carrying packets from multiple sources).  IP networks can often show reduced network (switching) errors, but may introduce delays to packets when the communications channels are congested.

 

Packet Protocols

These protocols, of which the IP is the most common, are rules for formatting the breakdown of data into discrete packages, called packets.  A data packet is composed of a header and a small part of the data.  The header is generated by the protocol and contains the address of the packet's destination.  Packet switching is very efficient because at each stage of routing only the address (or part of the address) is read and not the entire data packet.  (A useful analogy is a mail sorting room: the letter (data) is not read, just the relevant part of the address.)  Because packets all have an address, they may be sent via any available communications channel and data from multiple sources may be sent via the same communications channel.  This is another efficiency gain.

 

Packet Switching

The act of routing a data packet and also deciding  Most commonly, the act of routing IP packets through the Internet.  Packet switching not only includes the act of redirection of each packet, but also manages the decision making of each routing node.

 

Paging

Mobile Technology:  Largely superseded technology whereby a wireless device could receive text messages to a small device called a pager.  SMS allows two-way text messaging, and has largely replaced Paging.  Additional feature of some PABX systems which allows

 

PBX - Private Branch Exchange

See PABX.

 

PCS - Personal Communication Services

Early version of PDAs.  See PDA.

 

PDA - Personal Digital Assistant

Hand-held mobile device which not only acts as a mobile phone, but may also have features such as: email capable, organiser, diary, web enabled (either through WAP or HTML), SMS capable, etc.  PDAs use QWERTY keyboards or other.

 

Peak Period

The times of day and days of the week, when communications traffic is expected to be high, when compared with other times.

 

Peak Rates

Rates applied during Peak Periods.  Normal rate plan pricing from Service Providers.  Peak rates are only implicitly referred to through the use of terms such as Off Peak and Economy rates.

 

PGS - Pair Gain System

Use of a system (often involving multiplexers) which use less copper pairs than other systems to create the same telecommunications capacity.  For instance, some pair gain systems are capable of delivering 45 phone lines over one copper pair - in theory, there is a gain of 44 pairs available for other use.  Pair gain systems are extremely useful where buildings have no more available copper lines.

 

Phone Card

Typically this is a prepaid charge card, which allows calls to be made from most Landline services.  Also called a Calling Card.  Distinct from a TeleCard, which is not prepaid and will be billed back to the selected fixed service account.

 

Phone Plan

The agreed service provided to a mobile or landline subscriber. Includes call rates, monthly access fees, included calls and special offers.

 

PIN - Personal Identification Number

Numeric code (sometimes alphanumeric) used for identity verification purposes.  (Alphanumeric codes are usually used for passwords.)

 

PING - Packet Internet Groper

Utility for testing if a particular network destination is available on a network connection.  It sends an ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo request and waits for a response.  PING tests are commonly used to debug network connections.  (A convenient analogy is from submarine use; where a submarine might send a sonar pulse (a ping) towards a target and wait for an echo.  A sonar echo provides targeting information.)

 

Pixel

Amalgamating the terms Pictures (PIX) and Element (EL).  Images and video may be digitised and the smallest element is called a Pixel.  Image resolution is defined as Pixels per inch.

 

Plan Type (Mobile Phone)

Defined by billing method, Plan Types is a common usage term.  Plans may be Prepaid or Post-paid.  Prepaid mobile phone plans typically are casual plans, with higher rates and credit must be paid up-front.  Buying of mobile usage credit can be done with credit card or cash: online, in shops or over the phone.  Post-paid mobile accounts are typically mobile phone accounts under contract, with lower rates and are paid on invoicing of usage.  Post-paid plans may be paid by direct debit, credit card or 'on account'.

 

PMTS - Public Mobile Telecommunications Service

European usage.

 

Polyphonic Ringtones

Incoming call alert (also used for incoming SMS and email alerts) polyphonic ringtones produce a more 'natural' sound than their predecessor monophonic ringtones.  Polyphonic ringtones (often use MIDI files to) produce up to 24 simultaneous notes.  This blending of notes creates a more natural sound.

 

POP - Point Of Presence

Landlines:  Location where a carrier provides connection into a local exchange.  Often in use in Australia, where Telstra commonly provides the Last Mile connection (from the premises to the exchange) but another provider carries the communications from the local exchange.  Internet Connection:  Location where a carrier provides connection into a local exchange.  A PoP for dial-up Internet is described as a connection which is available within a local call area.  (See also MegaPoPs.)  For broadband, a PoP is defined as a network node, which is available in the local exchange.

 

POP - Post Office Protocol

Email term to denote the protocol for the retrieval of email from a server.  POP3 denotes POP version three.  See also IMAP - another email retrieval protocol.

 

Portable Handsfree

See Handsfree Kit.

 

Post-paid Mobile Phone Contracts

Post-paid mobile phone contracts are typically mobile phone accounts under contract, with lower rates than their prepaid counterparts, and are paid on invoicing of usage.  Post-paid plans may be paid by direct debit, credit card or 'on account'.  On account means payment is not automated, but rather is invoiced for payment.

 

POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service

Traditional switched telephone system using copper lines.

 

PPP - Point to Point Protocol

Protocol for connection to a TCP/IP network.  The Internet is a TCP/IP network.

 

PPTP - Point to Point Tunnelling Protocol

Early protocol for creation of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).  Flawed security.  Extended by introduction of L2TP, which incorporated Microsoft's PPTP and Cisco's L2FA technology.

 

PRA - Primary Rate Access for ISDN

See PRI.

 

Predictive Text

A mobile handset feature which selects the possible words from the combination of keystrokes used.  Alternatives may then be picked until the correct word is found.  Example:  When typing EARN, the keystrokes would be 3276, and the suggested word for those keystrokes may be FARM, then by scrolling through alternative words which use those keystrokes EARN can be selected.  Most words are automatically suggested correctly the first time, which dramatically decreases the time needed to type a text message.

 

Prepaid Mobile Phone Contracts

Prepaid mobile phone plans typically are casual plans, with higher rates and credit must be paid up-front.  Buying of mobile usage credit can be done with credit card or cash: online, in shops or over the phone.  (Technically, Prepaid is a contract.  It is merely a rolling contract per month and the only penalty for leaving early might be the loss of remaining credits.)  See also Post-paid Mobile Contracts.

 

Preselection

The routing of domestic long distance calls, calls to mobiles and international calls through a default (preselected) service provider.  Alternate providers may be selected on a call-by-call basis, through use of override codes.  Often a customer will nominate their preselected service provider to also bill their local calls and service charges, called Rebilling.

 

PRI - Primary Rate Interface

Also called ISDN10/20/30, this is a conversion of a single copper pair (ordinary telephone line) into thirty 64 Kbps 'B' channels which may be used for voice or data.  There is an additional 64Kbps 'D' data signal channel created also.

 

Priority Assistance Service

Service specification designed to ensure that persons diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions, who depend on a reliable home telephone service, are able to call for assistance when needed.  The timeframes for connecting a service or repairing a fault for a priority assistance customer is 24 hours in urban and rural areas and 48 hours in remote areas.  Telstra, AAPT and Primus offer priority assistance services.

 

Private Network

Network which is not accessible to unauthorised persons.  An example of a private network is a company intranet, where users may access external networks (including the Internet) but external users cannot access the company's intranet.

 

Protocol (Communications)

The rules which define communications formats.  Without proper formatting, communications between computer systems would be meaningless.

 

Provisioning (Telecommunications Services)

Providing a telecommunications service to a customer upon request.  Provisioning includes ordering, authorisation and implementation.

 

Proxy Servers

Server placed between a 'client' and a web server and represents itself to each end as being the other.  It can be used in two ways.  For the web server it can cache frequently accessed pages to reduce the web-server's traffic.  For security of the LAN clients it can present a single IP address to the Internet and prevent direct access to the rest of the LAN.  [MicroUK]

 

PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network

Traditional switched telephone system using copper lines.  PSTN services are used worldwide.  Twisted pairs of copper telephone lines are connected from the customer premises to the local exchange.  (These are also called local loops.)  At the exchange the communications are electronically switched, in accordance with their destination.  The network of these physical and switched connections are collectively called the Public Switched Telephone Network.

 

Public Telephone

Also called Payphones, they are publicly available telephones which accept coins, debit cards or credit cards, and can be used for calling domestically and internationally.  Call rates are high, compared to other telephones.

 

PUK - Personal Unblocking Key

Also called a Pin Unblocking Key.  An 8-10 digit code used to unblock a SIM card which has been blocked.  Service providers retain records of PUK codes.

 

Pulse Dialling

The conversion of keystrokes on the handset into discrete pulses which represent dialled numbers.  The direct current is interrupted for a certain number of intervals in accordance with the dialled number.  This allows the carrier's switching centre to connect the call to the chosen number.  Pulse dialling has been superseded by tone dialling for efficiency reasons.

 

Push to Talk

A fad technology, now passed in Australia.  Allowed a users handset to be used as a 2-way radio with other compatible handsets.  Talking was half-duplex: listening or talking, not both.  (Mobiles and telephones are full-duplex: allowing talking and listening.)  Superseded technology due to the availability of free intra account calling and free OnNet calling.

 

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:

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