Trio Telecom likes to speak in plain English, rather than techno-speak. However, the world of telecommunication is filled with jargon and acronyms. Below is a helpful list of 30 of the most used telecom acronyms you might come across.
They are in alphabetical order so simply scroll through to find the word you need If it’s not there email Trio Telecom and we will help you to understand the lingo!

ADSL

Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line, allows a standard telephone line to be used as a broadband line for transmission of large amounts of data.

CLI

Calling Line Identification or Caller ID, allow inbound call number to be identified before answering (systems).

CPS

Carrier Pre Select – Allows end-users to select, in advance, alternative Communications Providers to carry their calls without having to dial a prefix or install any special equipment at their premises.

DDI

Direct Dialling In – Available on ISDN lines. Offers capability for dialing individual telephone extensions, without going through a central switchboard.

DECT

Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology, a global standard for digital wireless telephones (but not mobiles).

DHCP

Dynamic Host Communications Protocol which allows network administrators to centrally configure IP addresses.

DTMF

Dual Tone Multi-Frequency, the technology behind automated switchboards (Press 1 for Accounts…). It works by generating two tones of different frequencies that instruct the system to direct a call.

EFM

Ethernet in the First Mile – First mile’ meaning simply the connection between the premises and the local exchange – in reality up to 3.9km, offers a non-contended, symmetrical service delivered as either two or four bonded copper pairs creating a single synchronous Ethernet connection.

FTTC

Fibre To The Cabinet – FTTC offers greater upload and download speeds due to the fibre optic cable connections between the local exchange and cabinet serving the customer premises. Typically up to 40Mb download and up to 2Mb or 10Mb upstream options are available.

FTTP

Fibre To The Premises – FTTP takes the fibre optic cable directly to the building. Download speeds of up to 110Mbps are available.

Gb

Gigabyte -1GB is equal to approximately 1 billion bytes or exactly 1024MB.

Gigabit

Unit of measurement for data transfer equivalent to one billion binary digits or bits e.g. a Gigabit Ethernet connection transmits one gigabit of data per second (Gbps).

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service – A packet-switching technology that enables data transfers through cellular networks. It is used for mobile internet, MMS and other data communications.

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Networks allow digital transmission of data via traditional copper wires. ISDN offers greater capacity and faster transmission than analogue.

IVR

Interactive Voice Response, a technology that detects voice and touch-tone signals to initiate call direction eg For Accounts, press 1.

LAN

Local Area Network, a group of computers and devices such as printers connected to each other, typically by Ethernet cable or wireless link.

LLU

Local Loop Unbundling – Incumbent operators (BT and Kingston in the UK) makes its local network (the copper cables that run from customers premises to the telephone exchange) available to other companies. Operators are then able to upgrade individual lines using DSL technology to offer services such as always-on high-speed Internet access.

MPLS

Multi-Protocol Label Switching – Each data packet encapsulates and carries the labels from source to destination and offers a scalable way of managing IP based traffic across a network. MPLS is designed to speed up network traffic and prioritise utilising Quality of Service.

PBX

Private Branch Exchange, an exchange serving a particular organization, connecting internal phones and externally to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

POE

Power Over Ethernet allows power to be carried via standard network data cables, reducing wiring needs.

PSTN

Public Switched Telephone Network which comprises the world’s public telephone systems. Also referred to as the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) it provides the Internet’s infrastructure.

PSU

Power Supply Unit or a mains adaptor.

RJ45

The standard Registered Jack connector for unshielded twisted pair cabling used for telephone and Ethernet wiring.

SIP

Session Initiation Protocol enables calls to be routed via the internet rather than a telephone network.

VoIP

Voice Over Internet Protocol, standard governing voice transmission via the Internet.

VPN

Virtual Private Network, network offers increased security of data transmission between multiple sites over the Internet.

WAN

Wide Area Network, non-localised computer network spanning geographic boundaries eg. connecting multi-site offices.

WIFI

A brand owned by the WiFi Alliance dedicated to ensuring the interoperability and accreditation of wireless devices.

WLAN

A Wireless Local Area Network.

WLR

Wholesale Line rental – Wholesale line rental (WLR) is a product that BT is obliged to provide to other Communications Providers. It enables other Communications Providers to offer both line rental and calls to end-users.