Swissphone Glossary

In our comprehensive tech glossary you will find all relevant technical terms of the industry explained in a clear and easy-to-understand way.

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  • μV/m

    Unit of measurement for electric field strength (microvolts per meter)

  • Two-Way Alerting

    Alerting including feedback such as “Coming, NOT Coming”.

  • VPN

    Abbreviation for Virtual Private Network: solution for exchanging confidential data securely via public networks.

  • VoWi-Fi

    VoWi-Fi stands for Voice over Wi-Fi. VoLTE calls get transferred seamlessly and completed over a Wi-Fi connection where applicable.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • VoLTE Roaming

    VoLTE calling different carriers, providing the same level of call quality.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • VoLTE

    VoLTE, an acronym for Voice over LTE, which is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, with specific profiles for control and media planes of voice service on LTE. VoLTE will facilitate far richer, multi-media voice services, increasing the service quality (by offering HD Voice) and interest delivered to consumers.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • VoIP

    Voice over IP is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the internet.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • ViLTE

    ViLTE, an acronym for Video over LTE. Its a conversational, i.e. person-to-person, video service based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core network.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • UPS

    Uninterruptible Power Supply

  • TETRA

    Terrestrial Trunked Radio: A digital radio standard

  • TD-LTE

    Time-Division Long-Term Evolution is a 4G telecommunications technology and standard co-developed by an international coalition of companies, including China Mobile, Datang Telecom, Huawei, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Qualcomm, Samsung and ST-Ericsson. 

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • TCP

    Transmission Control Protocol: Basic Protocol for Internal and Related IT Networks

  • SDN

    Software-Defined Networking: The SDN method centralises control of the network by separating the control logic to off-device computer resources.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • SAAS / Software as a Service

    Software as a Service: a software that operates entirely in the cloud, such as webmail services.

  • RSSI

    Received Signal Strength Indication: Display of the received signal strength

  • Roaming

    Roaming helps ensure that a travelling wireless device (typically a mobile phone) is kept connected to a network without breaking the connection.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • RIC

    Paging Adress (Radio Identification Code)

  • RCS

    Rich Communications Services (sometimes referred to as RBM or RCS Business Messaging)

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • QoS

    Quality of Service is the overall performance of a telephony or computer network, particularly the performance seen by the users of the network.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • PSTN

    Public Switched Telephone Network

  • POCSAG

    Standard for radiopaging, originally the name of the standardisation body (Post Office Code Standardisation Advisory Group)

    Learn more

  • PNC / Paging Network Controller

    Paging Network Controller: The PNC is responsible for the control, monitoring and documentation of the entire radio network.

  • PBX

    Private Branch Exchange: A on site phone exchange

  • On-Site Alerting

    Local alerting, all infrastructure (incl. transmitters etc.) is on site.

  • OTT / Over-the-Top Content

    In broadcasting, over-the-top content refers to the delivery of audio, video, and other media over the internet without the involvement of a multiple-system operator in the control or distribution of the content.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • Native Devices

    Native devices refer to devices that have out-of-the-box compatibility with IP-networks.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • mioty

    Stands for: my internet of things

    Learn more

  • LTE-Advanced

    LTE Advanced is a mobile communication standard and a major enhancement of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • LTE/4G

    LTE, an abbreviation for Long-Term Evolution, commonly marketed as 4G LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • IP[xy]

    x
    0 No protection against foreign bodies
    1 Protection against foreign bodies D ≥ 50mm
    2 Protection against foreign bodies D ≥ 12.5mm
    3 Protection against foreign bodies D ≥ 2.5mm
    4 Protection against foreign bodies D ≥ 1mm
    5 Protection against dust in harmful quantities
    6 Dust-tight


    y
    0 No protection against water
    1 Protection against dripping water
    2 Protection against falling dripping water
    3 Protection against falling spray water
    4 Protection against splashing water from all sides
    5 Protection against water jets (nozzle)
    6 Protection against strong jets of water
    7 Protection against temporary submersion
    8 Protection against permanent submersion.

    See IP

  • IP

    The IP protection class provides information on how the product is protected against the ingress of foreign bodies and moisture.
    1st digit: Protection against ingress of foreign bodies (e.g. dust).
    2nd digit: Protection against moisture

    See IP[xy]

  • Interconnection

    Interconnection is the physical linking of a carrier’s network with equipment or facilities not belonging to that network. The term may refer to a connection between a carrier’s facilities and the equipment belonging to its customer, or to a connection between two (or more) carriers.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • IMS / IP Multimedia Subsystem

    The IP Multimedia Subsystem or IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem is an architectural framework for delivering IP multimedia services.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • IDEA

    International Data Encryption Algorithm: Standardised encryption method 128 bit key

  • Hybrid Alerting

    Alerting via multiple radio technologies (e.g. POCSAG and mobile radio or cellular)

  • HD Voice

    The GSMA supports a universal HD voice logo that gives the consumer confidence that a defined quality of experience is provided when making an end-to-end HD voice call.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • GSM

    The technology 2G is also called GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and stands for the 2nd generation of mobile communications.
    Application: telephony (voice), SMS, data via GPRS or EDGE.

  • Remote Programming

    Location-independent updating of configuration and firmware data

  • eMBMS

    Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services is a point-to-multipoint interface specification for existing and upcoming 3GPP cellular networks, which is designed to provide efficient delivery of broadcast and multicast services, both within a cell as well as within the core network.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • DMR / Digital Message Receiver

    The Digital Message Receiver is a mobile POCSAG receiver for alerting emergency services, e.g. the volunteer fire brigade or the rescue service. It is a terminal device which is usually worn on the body and which receives alarm texts via radio from the digital alarm converter.

  • Digital Alarm Converter

    An important component of digital alerting is the digital alarm converter. The digital alarm converter is a radio base station for the operation of POCSAG alarm networks. It receives the alarm text either directly from the digital alarm transmitter in the control centre or via radio from other digital alarm converters in the radio network. The digital alarm converter forwards the alarm text to POCSAG terminals (e.g. Digital Alarm Receiver) and/or to other digital alarm converters.

  • DA / Digital Alerting

    Digital alerting generally refers to a procedure for notifying and alerting the emergency forces of authorities and organisations with security tasks. In contrast to analogue alerting, the alarm texts are available in digital form so that digital signal processing methods can be used (e.g. text instead of tone-only or tone and voice alerting). Usually, the alarm texts are distributed via a radio network, consisting of a digital alarm transmitter in the control centre, various base stations distributed in the radio network (digital alarm converter), as well as the end devices of the emergency forces.

  • Circuit-Switched

    Circuit switching is a methodology of implementing a telecommunications network in which two network nodes establish a dedicated communications channel (circuit) through the network before the nodes may communicate. The circuit guarantees the full bandwidth of the channel and remains connected for the duration of the communication session.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • C&C

    Command and Control: Operations management

  • BSC / Base Station Controller

    Base Station Controller: Basic component of a base station

  • All-IP Communications

    Internet Protocol (IP) is the most successful technology for data transmission worldwide. The introduction of all-IP considerably simplifies communication, with all services – including fixed network telephony – run over the same network.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • AES / Advanced Encryption Standard

    Advanced Encryption Standard: Standardised encryption method 128 or 256 bit key

  • Advanced Communications

    Advanced Communications is a GSMA term that refers to enhanced calling and messaging features such as VoLTE, VoWiFi, ViLTE and RCS. Although designed principally for an all-IP world, on 4G and in the future 5G networks, some features will work on existing 3G networks.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • 5G

    5G (5th generation mobile networks or 5th generation wireless systems) denotes the next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards beyond the current 4G/IMT-Advanced standards. 5G has speeds beyond what 4G can offer.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • 4G

    4G, short for fourth-generation, is the fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, succeeding 3G and preceding 5G. A 4G provides mobile broadband internet access and over some networks voice services (known as VoLTE).

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • 3GPP

    The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, known as the Organisational Partners. The initial scope of 3GPP was to make a globally applicable, third-generation (3G) mobile phone system specification. This was to be based on evolved Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) specifications within the scope of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 project of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The scope was later enlarged to include the development and maintenance of:
    - GSM and related “2G” and “2.5G” standards including GPRS and EDGE;
    - UMTS and related “3G” standards including HSPA;
    - LTE and related “4G” standards; and
    - An evolved IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) developed in an access independent manner.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • 3G

    3G is the third-generation of mobile telecommunications technology. This is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices, mobile telecommunications and specifications. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, mobile internet access, fixed wireless internet access, video calls and mobile television.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

  • 2G

    2G is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Second generation 2G cellular telecoms networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard.

    Source: GSMA Glossary

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