Glossary of terms

Fibre Optic Communications
Optical fibre is a strand of very pure glass that carries light signals along its length. Optical fibres are now the preferred medium to transmit long distance or ultra fast communications because of their unlimited capacity for bandwidth and  their reliability to transmit complex information.

Dark Fibre
Is an Optical fibre that has no electrical devices connected to it and therefore has services running over it.  It requires someone to “Light” the fibre by  connecting electronic devices to each end thereby allowing end to end communication.

Broadband
Is most often, and incorrectly used to describe a connection to the Internet at 2 to 10 Megabits per second. In reality broadband has a much wider definition which includes high speed communications between any two or more locations. Enable Networks has defined it as a digital connection carrying multiple streams of information at speeds of 100 Megabits per second or higher.

Ethernet
A common way for computers to talk to each other over a network. This method of communications is now starting to be used to provide high speed communications between businesses or remote offices. Because it uses the same type of communication that computers use in the local office environment, it is simple and efficient.

Open Access
In an open access environment, the network infrastructure is made available to any individual or organisation on relatively equal terms. Users could include telecommunications companies, ISPs, IT companies, individual companies and community organisations. This fundamentally changes the barriers that currently exist between competing networks. The dark fibre and Ethernet networks have maximum interoperability with all other networks, allowing them to be connected together without constraints.

Telco
The abbreviation for a telecommunications company e.g Telecom, Telstra.

ISP
Internet Service Provider provides access to the internet. Recently there is a convergence of the activities of ISPs, IT companies and telecommunications companies. They are all starting to offer the same range of services now that these services are all becoming digital and are therefore based on the same technology e.g. IP technology.

Trenching
Is a common way of laying the network through the streets. It involves digging a trench to a depth of up to 1m, laying the cable and refilling.

Drilling/Boring
This is a easier and cheaper alternative to digging a trench and includes mechanically drilling a hole at a depth of 0.5m to 1.0m under the ground through which cable ducts (pipes) and cable are pulled.

Is fibre always under ground?
The cable is often, but not always, laid under the ground. It can also be hung overhead along other structures like Tram lines, or power poles etc.  Overhead cabling is easier and less costly  but more visually polluting and more susceptible to failure.

Service providers
Deliver services over the fibre cable for example internet access, voice telephony, and video conferencing. Service provides buy the fibre off Enable Networks and use it to deliver their services to their customers.

Voice of Internet Protocol (VOIP or IP voice)
Voice Over Internet Protocol allows you to use the telephone over the same connection you use for the Internet or other data connections, removing the need for separate phone lines and expensive toll calls. Fibre provides the quality connection that this technology requires for around 5 or more extensions. IP Voice has huge potential to deliver cost reductions and efficiencies to businesses.

LAN/WAN
Local Area Network – the network that connects all your computer devices together within your building or campus. Wide Area Network is usually the computer connection between remote offices or separate businesses.

Demarcation point
The point where two networks or services meet on a property.

Hosting
Where an organisation locates their IT and business applications on computer (server) or storage equipment provided by a remote hosting company. This reduces the business’s risk and costs to maintain highly reliable central computing hardware within their own building.

Data Centre
Is a specialised facility that is built to house computer equipment remotely from the business it serves.  It will typically have specialist power, cooling, security, fire suppression and network access. This reduces the businesses risk and costs to maintain highly reliable central computing.

Point of presence (POP)
Is a termination point for many connections e.g an ISP or telephone exchange.

Packets
Are the way a stream of digital information is broken down to be sent over the network.

Carrier Network
Traditional Telecommunication companies have networks which were designed to “carry” voice telephony e.g. Telecom.

Duplex
Full-duplex, allows communication in both directions, and, unlike half-duplex, allows this to happen simultaneously. Telephone networks are full-duplex, since they allow both callers to speak and be heard at the same time.

Co-Location
Is when you place equipment (often computer equipment) in someone else’s facility which may be obtained on a leased or rental basis.