Communications glossary

Everything from 3G to remote working and wireless network names, an explanation of the entire range of phone, broadband, mobile phone and mobile broadband acronyms and technical terms that you need to know.

3G

Third Generation of the mobile phone network, allowing mobile internet on phones and mobile broadband using a dongle.

ADSL

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. Technology that converts standard copper wires, used for telephones, enabling them to support high-speed internet. Download is faster than upload speed.

Bandwidth

The data transfer capabilities of your broadband connection.

Broadband

High-speed digital internet.

Cable

A way of obtaining broadband internet via fibre optic cables.

Encryption

A way of protecting your internet connection and computer from hackers.

File sharing

File sharing networks consist of both peer-to-peer sites and private access sites. Users are usually able to download, modify and upload files for other users using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

Gigabyte/Megabyte

A measure of data size, also written as GB and MB. One GB is 1,024 MB. Used to describe your download allowance.

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service. Used to access mobile internet.

GPS

Global Positioning System. Used to track devices or locate your position on a map using some smartphones.

Hotspot

Public places where users can access wireless internet.

IP address

A computer’s numerical address by which it can be located within a network. They usually look like this: 192.254.86.201. Can be static - remain the same all the time - or dynamic - changing at regular intervals.

Kbps/Mbps

Measurement used to represent the speed of your broadband connection. Also written as Kb and Mb. One Mb is 1,024 Kb. Used to describe your download speed.

LAN

Local area network connecting all the computers and devices within your office.

Mobile broadband

Using the mobile phone network to connect to the internet.

Modem

A device that connects a computer to the internet by transferring data between the two.

Network adapter

Or network interface card (NIC) which allows networked computers access to another device, such as a printer.

Remote working

Accessing your PC from another computer over the internet - useful for people who work between home and the office. Your own computer must have a static IP address.

Roaming

Using a foreign network while abroad for mobile phone or mobile broadband.

SDSL

Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line. Like ADSL but with equal upload and download speeds.

Server

A program in a central computer that sends and receives data.

Smartphone

“Smart” mobile phone with organiser and Office capabilities.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Uses broadband to make very cheap or even free calls over the internet.

WAN

Wide Area Network. A network over a large geographical area that will include many LANs.

WEP/WPA

Wired Equivalent Privacy and Wireless Protected Access. Wireless encryption providing security against hackers and protecting data sent over wireless networks.

Wireless network name

Technically known as an SSID, this is the name by which your wireless signal is identified.