| Accronym |
Expanded title |
Description |
| 21CN |
21st Century Network |
BT's next generation network, which is being rolled out between 2007 and 2012. |
| ADSL |
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line |
This is the most common way in which broadband is delivered in the UK. |
| ADSl2+ |
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, version 2+ |
A form of ADSL offering up to 24Mbps downloads, and up to 2.5Mbps upstream (for the Annex M version). |
| AP |
Aggregation Point |
The point at which broadband/voice traffic from multiple exchanges is aggregated in to a single point, ready for hand-off to a CP. |
| CP |
Communications Provider |
BT's terminoloy for an ISP |
| DPI |
Deep Packet Inspection |
The process by which a traffic analyser will look beyond the packet headers and down in to the packet payload in order to determine the type of traffic or other characteristics. |
| DSLAM |
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer |
The device installed in telephone exchanges that terminates copper pairs to provide xDSL connections. Superceded in 21CN by MSANs. |
| EP |
Extension Path |
The link between the APs and the MSILs. |
| EUA |
End User Access |
BT's terminology for the tail circuit from the exchange to the end users premises |
| FTTC |
Fiber To The Curb |
The process by which fiber optic cables are laid from the exchange to the curb (typically a street cabinet). Traditional copper connections then run from the street cabinet to the premises. |
| FTTP |
Fiber To The Premises |
Fiber optic cables delivering services directly to the premises from a local POP or telephone exchange. |
| IP |
Internet Protocol |
The most commonly used set of rules governing how information is sent over networks (not necessarily just the Internet). |
| ISDN |
Integrated Services Digital Network |
A means of transmitting voice and data at up to 64kbps per channel. |
| ISP |
Internet Service Provider |
A provider of internet access services (such as ADSL). |
| LLU |
Local Loop Unbundling |
The BT Openreach product that allows ISPs to install their own equipment in telephone exchanges and just use the copper pair to premises. |
| MSAN |
Multi Service Access Node |
A single piece of equipment installed into exchanges that can provide telephony, ISDN and xDSL all in one package. |
| MSIL |
Multi Service Interconnect Link |
A new form of Ethernet backhaul for 21CN technologies. Speeds available at up to 1Gbps at present, with 10Gbps in the pipeline. |
| NGN |
Next Generation Network |
The generic name given to a new breed to communications networks. |
| POP |
Point of Presence |
A site in which a communications provider hosts equipment for terminating connections. |
| QoS |
Quality of Service |
A measure of how "good" the service on a broadband connection is. Most QoS implementations allow you to define different priorities for different types of traffic (e.g. Web, VoIP, email) |
| SDSL |
Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line |
A DSL service in which the upstream and downstream channels operate at the same speed. |
| VoIP |
Voice over IP |
The generic name given to telephony services that communicate using IP rather than the old PSTN. |
| VP |
Virtual Path |
A virtual link of a predefined capacity carrying broadband traffic from the DSLAM in the telephone exchange back to the BT network. |
| WBBC |
Wholesale Broadband Connect (old name) |
Accronym replaced by WBC, since "WBBC" led to confusion with the BBC. |
| WBC |
Wholesale Broadband Connect |
BT's new wholesale broadband product, offering ADSL2+ and QoS services nationally. |
| WBCC |
Wholesale Broadband Connect Converged |
A combined voice and broadband product based upon WBC. |
| WBMC |
Wholesale Broadband Managed Connect |
An end-to-end version of WBC that simplifies management by handling traffic from all Aggregation Points. |
| WCA |
Wholesale Converged Access (old name) |
Product renamed and accronym subsequently changed to WBCC. |