Telecommunications Definitions, ICT Definitions and Phone Industry Glossary  

Aussie Phone Brokers - Telecommunications Glossary

'S' Glossary Terms

Sat Phone

See Satellite Mobile Phones.

 

Satellite (Telecommunications)

Communications platform in orbit around the earth.  These satellites send and receive communications signals.  Satellites are very useful for their enormous coverage capabilities.  There are three types, found at various heights above the earth:  LEO (Low Earth Orbit, MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) and GEO (Geosynchronous Earth Orbit).

 

Satellite Broadband

Internet connection using a satellite communications link.  Two-way satellite broadband uses a satellite download link and upload link.  One-way satellite broadband uses a satellite download link and a landline upload link (usually an ISDN2).   Satellite broadband setup charges and running costs were subsidised in regional and rural areas through the HiBIS scheme, and are now subsidised using the Broadband Connect scheme.

 

Satellite Mobile Phones

Mobile phones which operate from satellites rather than land-based base stations.  Coverage in remote areas is the primary use of these services, since usage costs are typically considered expensive.  Also called Sat Phones.  Sat Phones are often kept for emergency use in remote areas.

 

Screen Display Area (Mobile Handsets)

The size of the mobile phone or PDA handset's screen area.

 

SDSL - Single-Line Digital Subscriber Line

Also called Symmetric DSL.  Download and upload speeds match, unlike ADSL.  Operation is over a single copper pair, like ADSL, unlike HDSL.  Traditional voice communications are unavailable, unlike ADSL, but SDSL is becoming popular for VoIP communications.

 

Server

Computer hardware and software combined to 'serve' information requests to its clients (PCs).  Information might be data, files, emails, webpages, or other network services from client computers.

 

Service Address

The physical address where the services are connected.  A Billing Address may differ from the service address.

 

Service Area

See Coverage Area.

 

Service Fee

Monthly charge from a provider for provision of service.  Call charges are additional to this charge.  See also Access Fee.

 

Service Plan

The contract between a mobile service provider and customer.  The 'service' being supplied is connection and access to a telecommunications network.  The service plan should describe all rates, charges and fees.

 

Service Provider

A company which provides telecommunications connection and service to a customer.  The telecommunications service provider may be the actual carrier or a reseller of those services.

 

SFOA - Standard Form of Agreement

Prescribed terms and conditions which accompany a telecommunications service offer.  Contains details of the service provider's required conduct and a customer's rights and obligations.  Each service provider must register their SFOAs with the ACMA.

 

SIM card - Subscriber Identity Module card

A SmartCard used (for mobile phones) to hold GSM encrypted security information and user information.  The card holds the user's phone number, PIN number, some or all phonebook contents and SMSs.

 

Slamming

Switching telecommunications service provider without the customer's knowledge or permission.  This action is reversible and has been largely curtailed in Australia.

 

Smart Numbers

A government-run distribution portal for 1800, 13 or 1300 numbers.  Often a smart number spells a mnemonic word.  (eg. 1800-746-637 spells 1800-PHONES).  Here are some websites which allow conversions of numbers into possible words:

 

Smart Ring (brand name)

Telstra product which enables landlines to have up to three distinct ringtones.  By nominating up to 15 numbers per ring tone, customers can know which group a caller belongs to.

 

SMS - Short Message Service

Communication of alphanumeric text messages from one mobile handset to another.  (PC-to-SMS and email-to-SMS services are also available.)

 

SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

TCP/IP based protocol used to transfer e-mail messages over the Internet.  Often messages are finally retrieved from an email server using either POP or IMAP, because SMTP is not efficient at queuing emails.

 

SOHO - Small Office, Home Office

Denotes a business run from a home or small office.

 

Spam

Unsolicited, bulk e-mails (or SMS messages).  Also called Junk Emails.

 

SPAN - Service Providers Association Inc.

See CAL.

 

Spectrum

See EMS.

 

Speed Dialling

Feature of a handset which dials a preprogrammed number automatically.  Some handsets activate speed dial by use of a unique button on the handset, others use the prolonged holding of a button as their speed dial activation.  Speed dialling is most often used for calling frequently used numbers.  Emergency numbers may also be useful.

 

SSC - Spread Spectrum

Telecommunications technique which segments a signal, sends the components over multiple frequencies, and then re-assembles the signal at the destination.  Allows for higher data transmission rates and increased security capabilities.

 

Standard Charging Zone

The STD zone defined by a group of telephone numbers, for call charging purposes, that are not in an extended charging zone.

 

Standard Rental Telephone

Rental charge for the provision of a handset.  This is usually $2.95 per month.  Higher rentals are often charged for a handset which is CND enabled (eg. with a digital display).

 

Standby Time

Often used when describing mobile handsets and cordless handsets.  This is the time a handset battery can maintain a standby status - without active use (making and receiving calls, accessing phonebooks, etc.).

 

STD Call - Subscriber Trunk Dialling Call

Direct-dialled long distance call.  Also called NDD (National Direct Dialled) calls.

 

Streaming

Method of encoding and sending data such that it can be processed as a continuous stream.  Streaming is used especially over the Internet, where audio and video files may be played without the need to download the file fully first.  Instead, the download can proceed while the file is being viewed.

 

Subscriber Line

The copper lines between a customer premises and the local exchange.  A Subscriber Loop describes the same.  These lines are also called 'twisted copper pairs' and can be thought of as a copper 'loop' - one line to the premises and another line back to the exchange.  Other names are PSTN line, telephone line, copper pair, standard telephone service line, POTS, etc.

 

Subscriber Loop

See Subscriber Loop, above.

 

Switch (Telecommunications)

Selects communication channels between users.  Switches are faster than Routers (which are more autonomous).  Electronic switches are used in telephone exchanges - hence the term PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).

 

Switched Access Service

Supplied by the owner, or operator, of the subscriber line from a premises to the exchange where the call can be 'switched' to another service provider's network.

 

Switched Resellers

See Rebiller.

 

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