Glossary
The following definitions are also available on our Web site at telus.com/glossary
1X: Technology standard for 3G (third generation) high-speed wireless Internet service at speeds of up to 153 Kbps. 1X was the first step in the CDMA2000 evolution. 1X provides enhanced voice network capacity as well as high-speed packet data mobile wireless Internet access. 1X was previously known as 1XRTT.
3G (third generation): Describes next generations of wireless technology that offer high-speed packet data mobile wireless Internet access and multimedia communications at minimum transmission rates for 3G of 144 Kbps in mobile (outdoor) and two Mbps in fixed (indoor) environments. Analog cellular is considered the first generation of wireless, while digital is the second generation.
A
ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line): A technology that allows existing copper telephone lines to carry voice, data and video images at high speeds. Unlike dial-up Internet service, ADSL provides continuously available connectivity. It is asymmetric in that it uses most of the channel to transmit downstream to the user and only a small part to receive information upstream from the user.
ADSL2+: The next generation of ADSL technology. ADSL2+ offers higher speeds and is backwards compatible with ADSL. ADSL2+ doubles the downstream bandwidth, increasing the downstream data rate to as much as 25 Mbps.
ARPU (average revenue per unit).
B
bandwidth: The difference between the top and bottom limiting frequencies of a continuous frequency band, or indicator of the information-carrying capacity of a channel. The greater the bandwidth, the greater the information-carrying capacity.
bits per second (bps): A measurement of data transmission speed used for measuring the amount of data that is transferred in a second between two telecommunications points or within network devices. Kbps (kilobits per second) is thousands of bits per second; Mbps (megabits per second) is millions; Gbps (gigabits per second) is billions; and Tbps (terabits per second) is trillions.
C
CDMA (code division multiple access): A wireless technology that spreads a signal over a frequency band that is larger than the signal to enable the use of a common band by many users, and to achieve signal security and privacy. CDMA2000 refers to the family of third generation wireless standards that use CDMA.
CDNA (competitor digital network access): Provides access arrangements to competitors for the digital transmission of information between end-customer premises served by an ILEC wire centre and a competitor's switch located in an ILEC's wire centre area or at an ILEC's wire centre, in which case it must terminate on the competitor's co-located equipment.
cell site: Individual locations of network transmitter, receiver, antenna signaling and related base station equipment. Cell sites may be located on a transmission tower or building rooftop, or consist of an in-building system.
CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier): A category of telecommunications carriers, identified for regulatory purposes, that provides local exchange service in competition with an ILEC, using both the CLEC's own switching and network or the CLEC's switching facilities and a combination of either the CLEC's network facilities or an ILEC's unbundled network facilities.
CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission): The federal regulator for radio and television broadcasters, and cable-TV and telecommunications companies in Canada.
D
deferral account: A component of the current price cap regulation regime. A holding account where an amount equivalent to the forgone price reductions associated with cumulative annual productivity adjustments for residential services in non-high cost (rural) serving areas is added, while deducting cumulative mandated price reductions on competitor services. The productivity adjustments are determined using the gross domestic product productivity index less the productivity offset for the second price cap period of 3.5%.
digital: A transmission method employing a sequence of discrete, distinct pulses that represent the binary digits 0 and 1 to indicate specific information, in contrast to the continuous signal of analog. Digital networks provide improved clarity, capacity, features and privacy compared to analog systems.
DSLAM (digital subscriber line access multiplexer): A network device that receives signals from multiple customer DSL connections and puts the signal on a high-speed backbone line using multiplexing techniques.
E
ESMR (enhanced specialized mobile radio): A specialized mobile radio network that incorporates frequency reuse and digital technology to increase its capacity and to provide service over a very large coverage area. An ESMR network is designed not only for the dispatch service associated with SMR, but also for mobile telephony and short messaging services as well as circuit-switched and packet data services. See also iDEN.
EVDO (evolution data optimized): Part of the CDMA family of standards, EVDO is wireless radio broadband protocol that delivers data download rates of up to 2.4 Mbps. It is suitable for high bandwidth download applications such as enterprise VPN computing, music transfers and video streaming. EVDO Rev A (DOrA), the next generation of EVDO, adds data download rates of up to 3.1 Mbps, upload rates of up to 1.8 Mbps and higher system capacity, as well as improved quality of service support for packet applications.
F
fibre network: Transmits information by light pulses along hair-thin glass fibres. Cables of optical fibres can be made smaller and lighter than conventional cables using copper wires or coaxial cable that carry much more information, making them useful for transmitting large amounts of data between computers or many simultaneous telephone conversations.
forbearance: Policies refraining from the regulation of telecom services, allowing for greater reliance on competition and market forces.
G
GPS (global positioning system): A radio navigation system that allows users to determine and communicate their exact location, from anywhere in the world.
GSM (global system for mobile communication): A second generation digital PCS mobile phone standard used in many parts of the world.
H
hosting: The business of housing, serving and maintaining files for one or more websites. A hosting service allows many companies to share the cost of a high-speed Internet connection for serving files, other Internet infrastructure and management costs. Also known as web hosting.
Hotspot: A Wi-Fi wireless access point in a public place such as a cafĂ, train station, airport, commercial office property or conference centre.
I
iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network): An ESMR network technology developed by Motorola to utilize 800 MHz SMR channels for ESMR digital service. The digital signals offer greatly enhanced spectrum efficiency and system capacity.
ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier): An established telecommunications company providing local telephone service.
IMS (Internet protocol multimedia subsystems): Technology that enables multimedia to be transported by IP-based packet switching, as well as allowing circuit-based networks to operate in a packetswitched mode to provide the same content available with the Internet.
IP (Internet protocol): A packet-based protocol for delivering data across networks.
IP-based network : A network designed using IP and QoS (Quality of Service) technology to reliably and efficiently support all types of customer traffic including voice, data and video. An IP-based network enables a variety of IP-based customer devices and advanced applications to communicate over a single common network.
IPTV (Internet protocol television): Television service that uses a two-way digital broadcast signal sent through a switched telephone or other network by way of broadband connection. The TELUS service is trademarked as TELUS TV.
ISDN (integrated services digital network): SSwitched network providing end-to-end digital connection for simultaneous transmission of voice and/or data over multiple multiplexed communication channels and employing transmission that conforms to internationally defined standards.
J
K
L
LAN (local area network): A way of connecting several computers, typically in the same room or building, so they can share files and devices such as printers and copiers.
local loop: The transmission path between the telecommunications network and a customer's terminal equipment.
M
MMS (multimedia messaging service): Allows wireless customers to send and receive messages that contain much more than text including formatted text, graphics, photographs, and audio and video clips.
MVNO (mobile virtual network operator): A mobile service operator without licensed spectrum or network that leases wireless capacity from other carriers to resell it to end customers.
N
non-ILEC (non-incumbent local exchange carrier): The telecommunications operations of TELUS outside its traditional operating territories, where TELUS competes with the incumbent telephone company (e.g. Ontario and Quebec). TELUS' non-ILEC operations are focused on data and IP services for business in urban centres.
O
P
PCS (personal communications services): Digital wireless voice, data and text messaging services. In Canada and the United States, PCS spectrum has been allocated for use by public systems at the 1.9 GHz frequency range.
points of presence: An access point to the Internet that has a unique IP address. The number of points that an Internet service provider has is sometimes used as a measure of its size.
POP: One person living in a populated area that is included in a network's coverage area.
postpaid: A conventional method of payment for wireless service where a subscriber pays for a significant portion of services and usage in arrears, subsequent to consuming the services.
PTT (Push To Talk): A two-way communication service that works like a "walkie-talkie" using a button switch. A normal cell phone call is full-duplex, meaning both parties can hear each other at the same time. PTT is a half-duplex, meaning communication can only travel in one direction at any given moment.
prepaid: A method of payment for wireless service that allows a subscriber to prepay for a set amount of airtime in advance of actual usage. Generally, a subscriber's prepaid account is debited at the time of usage so that actual usage cannot exceed the prepaid amount until an additional prepayment is made.
price cap: A regulation, set by the CRTC in Canada, that sets the maximum price ILECs can charge for a designated group of services. Currently, the set prices change over time and, for the second price cap period from June 2002 to June 2007, are determined using the gross domestic product productivity index (GDP-PI) less the productivity factor of 3.5%.
PTT (Push To Talk): A two-way communication service that works like a walkie-talkie using a button switch. A normal cell phone call is full-duplex, meaning both parties can hear each other at the same time. PTT is half-duplex, meaning communication can only travel in one direction at any given moment.
Q
R
roaming: A service offered by wireless network operators that allows subscribers to use their mobile phones while in the service area of another operator; this requires a roaming agreement between the operators.
S
SMS (short messaging service): A wireless messaging service that permits the transmission of a short text message from and/or to a digital wireless terminal.
spectrum: The range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used in the transmission of sound, data and video. The capacity of a wireless network is in part a function of the amount of spectrum licensed and utilized by the carrier.
T
U
V
VoIP (voice over Internet protocol): The transmission of voice signals over the Internet or IP network.
VPN (virtual private network): A private data network that makes use of a public telecommunications infrastructure, maintaining privacy through the use of a private secure network and security procedures.
W
WAN (wide area network): A data network extending a LAN outside its building, over telecommunication lines or wirelessly, to link with other LANs over great distances.
Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity): The commercial name for networking technology that allows any user with a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to a wireless access point (e.g. Hotspot) at high speeds of up to 11 Mbps.
WiMax: A standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMax can be used for last mile broadband connections, Hotspots, cellular backhall and high-speed enterprise connectivity.
Wireless Web/Internet access: Technology that provides access to the Internet through a wireless cellular network instead of the traditional wireline telephone network.
WLANs or wireless LANs: A type of local area network that uses highfrequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate between nodes.
WNP (wireless number portability): The ability of wireless telephone customers to retain their phone numbers if they switch to another wireless or local telephone service provider. The CRTC mandated full WNP in Canada, beginning with larger carriers in March 2007.