Glossary

5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019. It offers superfast data and the main difference between 4G and 5G is latency; 5G promises low latency under 5 milliseconds, while 4G latency ranges from 60ms to 98ms.

Fourth-generation of mobile communications technology that offers fast data transfer.

Porting authority code (this enables you to move your existing mobile number to a new network).

Applications, services or resources made available to users on-demand via the Internet.

With SOGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access), you can offer a stand-alone hybrid fibre broadband line (VDSL or Gfast), without the voice service. SOGEA gives downloads of up to 80Mbs using the same reliable technology as FTTC.

ADSL2 and ADSL2+ are enhancements to the original ADSL broadband technology and can provide higher speeds, particularly for those who live close to the BT exchange. ADSL2/2+ technology is now available to 98% of UK homes and premises. The maximum possible downlink connection speeds for ADSL2/2+ is 24 Mbps, which is substantial higher than the 8 Mbps maximum for ADSL.

EFM (Ethernet First Mile) service can give your business committed and upgradable bandwidth speeds as well as being inherently resilient, ensuring business continuity. Ethernet in the first mile refers to using one of the Ethernet family of computer network technologies between a telecommunications company and a customer’s premises. From the customer’s point of view, it is their first mile, although from the access network’s point of view, it is known as the last mile.

Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) is an alternative technology that provides slower broadband speeds compared to FTTP. The reason FTTC is slower than FTTP is that the fibre cables from the local exchange (or data centre) stop at the street cabinet. From here, traditional copper cabling is used to pipe the data to your router.

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP, or FTTH – Fibre to the Home) is a broadband technology that can provide very fast internet speeds. Fibre to the premises is full-fibre, meaning that the fibre broadband internet connection from the local exchange is connected to the router in your office. That is much faster than the old copper telephone line used by many other broadband services.

A leased line is a dedicated, fixed-bandwidth, symmetric data connection. It provides a high-speed, private telecommunications circuit between two or more locations according to a commercial contract on a 1:1 contention ratio. As well as guaranteed increased transfer speeds, leased lines offer a cost-effective data exchange solution in terms of installation and ongoing maintenance.

Mobile broadband connects to a mobile network and sends data through 4G or 3G services – exactly the same as the internet you get on your smartphone. It can come in the form of a dongle, portable hotspot or a data-only SIM. Once you have a dongle or Wi-Fi device, you can take it wherever you want, and as long as you have 4G signal you can use the internet.

A fixed line network is a wired network used for voice and data communications using cables laid across land, in opposition to a mobile phone network, which uses radio waves for transmission.

Four times a year, we will look over your package(s) and bill(s) to make sure that you are still on the best deal.

SIP stands for ‘Session Initiation Protocol’ by which internet telephony service providers deliver voice services and unified communications over the internet. It works with an IP-enabled PBX (Private Branch eXchange). SIP trunking replaces traditional telephone lines such as PSTN.

VoIP stands for ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’. Put simply, VoIP is the technology that allows you to make phone calls over the internet rather than a fixed phone line.