100+ Telecom Acronyms You Should Know

In an industry where we reference concepts like Software-Defined Wide Area Network and Gigabit Ethernet Packet Optical Network on a regular basis, acronyms are essential.

These acronyms save us time—and sometimes, our sanity—but it can be tough to remember what every short form actually stands for.

With that, we present to you a master list of over 100 relevant acronyms, alphabetized and defined.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Acronym	Term	Definition
3G	Third Generation	Mobile wireless access technology capable of supporting data, voice, and video transmission.
4G	Fourth Generation	Mobile data transfer technology that carries voice traffic as data and supports shared speeds of approximately 100 Mbps.
5G	Fifth Generation	Mobile data transfer technology that carries voice traffic as data and supports shared speeds of approximately 10,000 Mbps.
ADSL	Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line	DSL service supporting higher download than upload speeds, typically 8-10 Mbps downstream and a maximum of 1 Mbps upstream, over copper wire.
AI	Artificial Intelligence	Machines imitating human intelligence.
API	Application Programming Interface	A system that enables two computers to communicate with each other.
AS	Autonomous System	Organizes data about IP addresses that are accessible through its network and announces that data across other networks using standardized BGP routing tables.
ASN	Autonomous System Number	A unique id number that a network must have in order to appear in the global routing tables.
BGP	Border Gateway Protocol	A standardized gateway protocol that exchanges routing information among AS on the internet, often used by ISPs.
Bps	Bits per second	Basic unit of measurement of bandwidth on digital systems. (See also Mbps, Gbps, Tbps, Pbps).
C&MA	Construction and Maintenance Agreement	Legal document governing consortium cables.
CAGR	Compounded Annual Growth Rate	In our pricing analysis, this typically refers to the change in price over a given period of time.
CDM	Code Division Multiplexing	Networking technique used for CDMA.
CDMA	Code Division Multiple Access	Channel access method for multi-user CDM.
CDN	Content Delivery Network	A network of servers that delivers web content to end-users.
CDR	Committed Data Rate	The minimum amount of bandwidth a customer agrees to use during a given contract term.
CoS	Class of Service	A packet's priority level/queuing instructions.
CPE	Customer Premises Equipment	Telecommunications equipment housed on the customer's premises.
CSP	Cloud Service Provider	A company that offers cloud computing services in some capacity.
DIA	Dedicated Internet Access	The most basic IP service available to retail customers—an always-on, uncontended pipe to and from the public internet.
DOCSIS	Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification	A standard supporting internet access over cable TV systems and Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial networks.
DSL	Digital Subscriber Line	Technology for fixed broadband access.
DTH	Direct-to-Home	A service that delivers content directly to a user's home via satellite.
DWDM	Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing	A product that is more typically seen in the wholesale carrier market since it is currently sold primarily as 10 Gbps (or larger) point-to-point connections.
EoDWDM	Ethernet over DWDM	A DWDM wavelength with an Ethernet interface.
EoMPLS	Ethernet over MPLS	A virtual private line that is tunneled through the MPLS network cloud.
EoSDH/SONET	Ethernet over SDH/SONET	The ability to offer the scalability and interface of Ethernet over a SDH/SONET line.
EPL	Ethernet Private Line	A point-to-point long-haul Ethernet connection.
EV-DO	Evolution-Data Optimized	A standard for mobile data transmission allowing the side-by-side transmission of data and voice services.
EVPN	Ethernet Virtual Private Network	Layer 2 VPN service that essentially allows the customer to bring the LAN to the PE where they can then connect the LAN directly to the WAN.
FTTC	Fiber-to-the-Cabinet	The use of fiber optic cables to bring signals within approximately 1,000 feet of the user premises.
FTTN	Fiber-to-the-Node	The fiber network extends to the vicinity of the customer premises, but terminates at a node or street cabinet.
FTTP	Fiber-to-the-Premises	Fiber optic cables that reach the boundary of the user premises, connecting to the building via a box on the outside wall or extending into the building and terminating in a network room.
Gbps	Gigabits per second	One billion bits per second.
GEO	Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit	A satellite orbit that circles the earth from a far distance, maintaining roughly the same position above the surface of the planet.
GEPON	Gigabit Ethernet Packet Optical Network	The use of a passive optical network to transfer data at speeds of up to 1.25 Gbps both upstream and downstream with an Ethernet interface.
GPON	Gigabit Passive Optical Network	A passive optical network capable of supporting 2.488 Gbps of downstream and 1.244 Gbps of upstream capacity shared among the users of the network.
HDSL	High-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line	DSL service using high frequency transmission to transfer data at higher bit rates.
HFC	Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial	A network using fiber optic cable to bring signals to a node in close proximity to the user premises. From the node, signals are carried to the user premises via coaxial cable.
HSPA	High Speed Packet Access	A mobile data transmission technology providing speeds of up to 14 Mbps.
IaaS	Infrastructure as a Service	A cloud computing service where the customer's data is hosted in the provider's data center.
ICP	Internet Content Provider	A company that creates and distributes online content (i.e. Netflix).
ICT	Information and Communication Technology	A general term encompassing all telecommunications technology.
iDEN	Integrated Digital Enhanced Network	Wireless technology developed by Motorola in 1994.
IP	Internet Protocol	A set of rules for how data can be transmitted over the internet.
IPO	Initial Public Offering	A private company's first instance of selling stocks to the public.
IPTV	Internet Protocol Television	Television received through Internet Protocol networks.
IRU	Indefeasible Right of Use	A long-term lease for the right to use a stated amount of transmission capacity, usually for the lifetime of a cable system.
ISDN	Integrated Services Digital Network	A set of standards for the providing of voice, video, and data services over switched telephone circuits.
ISP	Internet Service Provider	A company that connects end-users directly to the internet.
IT	Information Technology	Sending and receiving data through the use of technology.
IX/IXP	Internet Exchange	A physical location where networks come together to connect and exchange traffic with each other.
Kbps	Kilobits per second	Unit of measurement, how many kilobits of data can travel through a system in a second.
LAN	Local Area Network	A network of computers within one location, more limited than a WAN.
LEO	Low Earth Orbit	A satellite orbit that circles lower than GEO, covering less terrain, with lower latency and higher bandwidth.
LTE	Long-Term Evolution	A mobile data transmission standard supporting shared speeds of 100 Mbps.
M2M	Machine to Machine	Machines communicating with each other without human assistance.
Mbps	Megabits per second	One million bits per second.
MFA	Multi-Factor Authentication	Strengthening user credentials with multiple factors of authentication.
MNO	Mobile Network Operator	A company that provides mobile network service to customers (i.e. Verizon).
MPLS	Multiprotocol Label Switching	Type of IP network that provides a virtual map with predefined paths and intelligence on how things are routed.
MRC	Monthly Recurring Costs	Costs that are billed on a regular monthly basis.
MSP	Managed Service Provider	A company that manages its customers' network infrastructure.
MVNO	Mobile Virtual Network Operator	A company that provides mobile network service to customers but does not own the wireless network infrastructure it uses.
NaaS	Network as a Service	A cloud computing service where the customer rents networking services from a cloud provider.
NDSL	Naked Digital Subscriber Line	DSL provided over a line not shared with telephone service.
NFV	Network Function Virtualization	Type of IP network, typically associated with carriers.
NGN	Next Generation Network	A packet-centric network usually built around Internet Protocol and primarily geared toward data transfer and internet access, rather than switched telephony.
NIC	Network Interface Card	Hardware that enables a computer to connect to a network.
NRC	Non-Recurring Costs	One-time, non-repeated costs.
NSP	Network Service Provider	A company that provides network connection to businesses and consumers.
O&M	Operation and Maintenance	Annual fee paid by direct owners and IRU holders for the upkeep of a cable system.
OSI	Open Systems Interconnection	A model outlining the seven layers that make up network communication.
OTT	Over the Top	Reaching users directly through the internet, bypassing other conventional methods.
Pbps	Petabits per second	One trillion bits per second.
PCS	Personal Communications Service	Wireless telephone service that is specialized for personal use, similar to mobile cellular service.
PON	Passive Optical Network	A method of providing fiber-to-the premises through the use of a point-to-multipoint fiber network.
PoP	Point of Presence	An internet access point.
PoS	Point of Sale	The location where a customer pays for a purchase.
PUE	Power Usage Effectiveness	The PUE ratio determines the proportion of a data center’s TFP that is used specifically for IEP.
PSTN	Public Switched Telephone Network	Traditional telephone network.
RDSL	Remote Digital Subscriber Line	DSL service that allows the user to connect using an IP address in a different locality.
RFS	Ready for Service	The date of provisional acceptance or commercial service of a cable system. This is the date on which a cable is considered to be operational.
RTD	Round Trip Delay	The time required for a signal to travel in both directions over a link.
SaaS	Software as a Service	A cloud computing service where the customer's data is hosted by a third-party provider and accessible through the internet.
SASE	Secure Access Service Edge	Cloud-based network architecture model coined by Gartner in 2019.
SD-WAN	Software-Defined Wide Area Network	WAN architecture that combines traffic prioritization, management, and security functions into a centrally-controlled, transport-independent network overlay.
SDH	Synchronous Digital Hierarchy	A set of standards for structuring bit streams on high-speed digital transport networks, especially optical transport networks.
SDN	Software Defined Networking	Type of IP network, typically associated with data center operators and enterprise.
SDSL	Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line	DSL service supporting equal downstream and upstream bandwidth. Capacity is affected by distance ranging from 160 Kbps over 7 Km to 1.5 Mbps over 3 Km.
SHDSL	Symmetric High-speed Digital Subscriber Line	Symmetric DSL service providing higher bit rates than standard SDSL and supporting data rates up to and in excess of 2.3 Mbps both downstream and upstream.
SIM	Subscriber Identity Module	Small piece of hardware that gives a mobile device access to a network.
SLA	Service Level Agreement	The level of service guaranteed to a customer by the carrier.
SLTE	Submarine Line Terminal Equipment	A laser transmitter and detector in fiber optic networks. A transponder includes emitting equipment (laser transmitter) and receiving equipment (laser light detector).
SONET	Synchronous Optical NETwork	A set of standards for structuring bit streams on high-speed digital transport networks, especially optical transport networks.
SSH	Secure Shell	Protocol that allows the user to securely operate network services over an unsecured network.
Tbps	Terabits per second	One trillion bits per second.
TCO	Total Cost of Ownership	Purchase price plus all operational costs of an asset.
TD-LTE	Time-Division Long-Term Evolution	An LTE technology that combines and disaggregates signals through a time sequence rather than the division of a frequency spectrum.
TDM	Time-Division Multiplexing	A point-to-point private line transport service between two locations.
TDMA	Time-Division Multiple Access	Channel access method for multi-user TDM.
TEM	Telecom Expense Management	A process designed to make untangling telecom investments easier.
UC	Unified Communications	A system that unifies communication services within a business.
VDSL	Very-high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line	Asymmetric DSL service supporting bit rates up to 52 Mbps downstream and 16 Mbps downstream over a standard twisted copper pair.
VOBB	Voice-over-Broadband	Voice telephony over broadband connections.
VoIP	Voice-over-IP	Voice telephony over IP networks.
VPC	Virtual Private Cloud	A private cloud within a public cloud.
VPN	Virtual Private Network	A service that allows customers to set up a network of secure, private connections that tunnel over the public IP or carrier network.
VSAT	Very-Small-Aperture Terminal	A technology that uses a small satellite antenna to establish a two-way link with a communications satellite that provides internet access with speeds up to 16 Mbps.
W-CDMA	Wideband Code Division Multiple Access	Wireless communication technology that uses CDMA.
WAN	Wide Area Network	A network of computers across multiple geographical locations, more expansive than a LAN.
Wi-Fi	Wireless Fidelity	Technology that wirelessly connects devices to the internet.
WiLL	Wireless-in-Local Loop	The use of wireless technology to connect users to the end of their service providers’ cable networks.
WiMAX	Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access	A wireless communications standard supporting shared bandwidth of up to 40 Mbps (roaming) and 1 Gbps (fixed) over wider geographic areas than Wi-Fi.
ZTS	Zero Trust Security	User-focused security philosophy with a “never trust, always verify” mindset.