Fibre-optic cable
Glass strands carry data as light rather than electrical signals.
networkFTTH
Fibre to the Home describes a connection where fibre reaches the premises.
networkFTTB
Fibre to the Building ends at a shared building point before the final distribution.
networkFTTC
Fibre to the Cabinet uses a nearby cabinet and another medium for the final distance.
networkPassive optical network
A PON shares optical infrastructure between a provider and multiple endpoints.
networkOptical Line Terminal
An OLT is the provider-side endpoint that connects an optical access network to the core.
networkOptical Network Terminal
An ONT turns the optical connection arriving at a premises into network interfaces.
networkOptical splitter
A passive splitter divides one optical path into several paths without powered electronics.
networkLast mile
The last mile is the access-network distance between a local network and the customer premises.
networkBackhaul
Backhaul carries traffic from access networks toward the wider internet.
performanceLatency
Latency is the time a packet takes to travel between two points.
performanceJitter
Jitter is variation in packet arrival time and can make live audio or video feel uneven.
performancePacket loss
Packet loss occurs when packets fail to reach their destination and need recovery or retransmission.
performanceThroughput
Throughput is the useful data rate measured during a real transfer.
performanceBandwidth
Bandwidth describes how much data a connection can carry over a period of time.
performanceSymmetric internet
Symmetric service offers comparable advertised upload and download capacity.
performanceDownload speed
Download speed describes how quickly data can travel to a device.
performanceUpload speed
Upload speed describes how quickly data can leave a device for a remote service.
performanceSpeed test
A speed test is a timed measurement of transfer and network response under particular conditions.
performanceContention
Contention is competition for shared capacity among simultaneous users and services.
performanceOversubscription
Oversubscription describes the relationship between potential demand and shared capacity.
homeWi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6 adds scheduling and efficiency improvements for busy wireless networks.
homeWi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6E extends compatible Wi-Fi operation into the 6 GHz band where permitted.
homeWi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7 introduces newer wireless capabilities for compatible devices and networks.
homeOFDMA
OFDMA divides a wireless channel into smaller resource units that can be scheduled efficiently.
homeMU-MIMO
MU-MIMO allows a compatible access point to communicate with multiple clients more efficiently.
homeMesh Wi-Fi
Mesh Wi-Fi uses multiple coordinated access points to improve coverage across a space.
homeWi-Fi channel
A Wi-Fi channel is a slice of radio spectrum used by nearby wireless networks.
homeSSID
An SSID is the name a device sees when it looks for a wireless network.
homeEthernet
Ethernet is a wired local-network connection that avoids the radio path between device and router.
homeRouter placement
Router placement affects the walls, distance and interference a wireless signal must cross.
homeGuest network
A guest network gives visitors internet access without putting them on the main device network.
homeIoT network
An IoT network is a deliberate zone for connected appliances, cameras and sensors.
networkNetwork address translation
NAT lets multiple private devices share a public-facing network address.
networkCarrier-grade NAT
CGNAT lets a provider share public address space across customers.
networkPublic IP address
A public IP is an address reachable on the public internet, subject to routing and firewall policy.
businessStatic IP address
A static IP is a predictable address useful for selected remote-access and business services.
networkDNS
The Domain Name System turns human-readable names into addresses used by network clients.
networkIPv4
IPv4 is the older four-octet internet addressing system still used across many networks.
networkIPv6
IPv6 expands the address space and adds a modern foundation for internet-connected devices.
businessVPN
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a device or network and a remote endpoint.
businessLeased line
A leased line is a contracted business connection with defined service characteristics.
businessBusiness broadband
Business broadband is a shared access service shaped around small-team workloads.
businessService-level agreement
An SLA defines service targets, measurement rules, exclusions and remedies.
businessUptime
Uptime is the proportion of a defined period during which a service is available under its measurement rules.
businessSupport escalation
An escalation path explains how an unresolved service issue moves to the next level of attention.
businessCloud backup
Cloud backup copies data to a remote service and depends heavily on sustained upload capacity.
businessVideo conferencing
Video conferencing is a two-way real-time workload sensitive to upload, jitter and packet loss.
careRouter firmware
Router firmware is the software that controls the device and should be kept current from a trusted source.
careNetwork monitoring
Network monitoring records useful signals such as latency, loss and uptime over time.