Glossary of Terms Access network The infrastructure provided by a telecommunications operator that connects individual properties to the nearest node in the telecommunications operator’s network. This may be wire, in which case it is provided using copper twisted pairs, typically known as the local loop or it may be wireless, in which case it is the wireless infrastructure that links the subscriber’s device to nearest node. ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A means of providing broadband over the local loop where download capacity is greater than while in most cases allowing normal telephone services to continue to be provided. One of a family of Digital Subscriber Line standards and technologies that offer alternative broadband service characteristics and performance levels. ADSL MAX BT service providing up to 8Mbit/s download capacity ADSL2+ A standard for ADSL providing up to in excess of 20Mbit/s download capacity over shorter copper links Backhaul A means of bringing the Internet to a point of presence (PoP) in the community Broadband Definitions of Broadband differ but the following definition has been used. A telecommunications service that provides at least 512Kbit/s instantaneous download capacity and 256Kbit/s upload. CPE Customer Premises Equipment. Equipment on the customer premises used to provide access to a telecommunications service. DP Distribution Point. A low level node in the BT access network could be a telegraph pole or junction box on a wall. DSL Digital Subscriber Loop. Generic term for a range of technologies providing data services over telephone lines at high speeds. DSLAM Digital Subscriber Loop Access Multiplexer. The device that connects the core telecommunications network to the copper tail circuit. FTTC Fibre to the Cabinet. Also known as Fibre to the Kerb, FTTK, this is the use of fibre optic cable in part of the access network FTTH Fibre to the Home. Also know as Fibre to the Premises, FTTP, this is the use of fibre optic cable as a replacement of copper in the access network. IPTV Internet Protocol Television. Television delivered to the home across a packet based infrastructure kbit/s or kbps A measure of speed or instantaneous capacity of a telecommunications channel of 1024 bits per second, where a bit is one unit of information. 1024 Kbit/s is equal to 1Mbit/s. LLU Local Loop Unbundling, whereby another telecommunications operator or service provider is provided with access to the copper twisted pairs used for connecting a customer’s premises to the local exchange. Access may be shared with the incumbent operator that owns the local loop or may be dedicated to the other operator. Local loop The circuit between the consumer premises and the nearest location in a telecommunications operator’s network that provides call processing functions (such as switching). The local loop is generally made from twisted copper wire, but may be made also from fibre optic cable or aluminium wire. In some cases, the local loop is provided by wireless. Mbit/s or Mbps A measure of speed or instantaneous capacity of a telecommunications channel of 1024 Kbit/s, where a bit is one unit of information. MSAN Multi Service Access Node. The access module used to link access services to BT’s 21st Century Network. Currently mounted in exchanges, but expected to be street mounted at some future time to support higher speeds at longer ranges from the exchange. NGN Next Generation Network. BT’s updated network architecture based on packet transmission. Also known as the 21st Century Network. PCP Primary Connection Point -  a connection point in the BT access network – of called a Cabinet.  (the green boxes you see at the edge of the pavement) PON Passive Optical Network. Access infrastructure technology based on fibre that requires no active (powered) components. PoP Point of Presence. A building or location where access to physical telecommunications infrastructure can be connected. VDSL Very high bit-rate Digital Line Subscriber is a higher speed variant of ADSL, capable of delivering  up to 52Mbps downstream and 12Mbps upstream. The range of VDSL over copper wires is more limited than ADSL, hence it is usually deployed with FTTC VoIP Voice over IP. The protocol used to carry voice channels over a packet based infrastructure.