Telecommunications Knowledge Domains
Network Infrastructure
Technical terminology for fiber optic networks, copper infrastructure, and wireless systems
- Fiber types (SMF, MMF, OS2)
- Network topologies (ring, mesh, star)
- Transport protocols (SONET, SDH, OTN)
- Last-mile technologies
- Network architecture patterns
Service Economics
Pricing models, cost structures, and economic frameworks for telecommunications services
- MRC/NRC pricing structures
- Usage-based billing models
- Capacity planning economics
- ROI calculations
- TCO analysis methodologies
Protocol Standards
Industry standards, RFCs, and protocol specifications for telecommunications systems
- OSI model layers
- TCP/IP protocol suite
- VoIP signaling (SIP, H.323)
- MPLS label switching
- BGP routing standards
Service Level Terminology
SLA metrics, performance guarantees, and quality of service parameters
- Uptime percentages (99.9%, 99.99%)
- Latency measurements
- Jitter specifications
- Packet loss thresholds
- MTTR/MTBF metrics
Regulatory Framework
FCC regulations, telecommunications law, and compliance terminology
- Universal Service Fund (USF)
- CALEA compliance
- Net neutrality principles
- Spectrum licensing
- Interconnection agreements
Cloud & Virtualization
Cloud computing terminology and network function virtualization concepts
- NFV architecture
- SDN control planes
- Virtual network functions
- Multi-tenant infrastructure
- Edge computing models
Terminomics Framework
A systematic approach to telecommunications terminology integrating technical definitions, economic models, and strategic frameworks
Definitional Layer
Foundation: Precise technical definitions for telecommunications terms
Standards: IEEE, ITU-T, IETF, 3GPP specifications
Application: Unambiguous communication between engineers, vendors, and clients
Economic Layer
Foundation: Cost models and pricing frameworks for telecom services
Standards: Industry benchmarking and financial analysis
Application: Business case development and vendor negotiations
Architectural Layer
Foundation: Network design patterns and infrastructure topology
Standards: Best practices for resilience and scalability
Application: Enterprise network planning and deployment
Operational Layer
Foundation: Performance metrics and operational procedures
Standards: ITIL, TL9000, ISO/IEC 20000
Application: Service delivery and continuous improvement
Essential Telecommunications Glossary
MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching)
Routing technique that directs data using short path labels rather than network addresses, enabling fast and efficient traffic engineering.
SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network)
Virtual WAN architecture allowing centralized control, application-aware routing, and transport independence across multiple connection types.
Dark Fiber
Unused fiber optic cable infrastructure leased to customers who provide their own transmission equipment and manage the optical layer.
Burstable Billing
Bandwidth pricing model based on the 95th percentile of usage, allowing temporary traffic spikes without overage charges.
DIA (Dedicated Internet Access)
Symmetric internet connection with guaranteed bandwidth, SLA commitments, and dedicated fiber or wireless infrastructure.
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
Path vector protocol managing routing between autonomous systems on the internet, enabling multi-homed network configurations.
SIP Trunking
VoIP service connecting PBX systems to the PSTN using Session Initiation Protocol over IP networks, replacing traditional ISDN lines.
Wavelength Services
Dedicated optical wavelength (lambda) on fiber infrastructure, providing point-to-point connectivity at Layer 1 for maximum bandwidth.
Colocation (Colo)
Data center space rental providing power, cooling, and physical security for customer-owned telecommunications and IT equipment.
Ethernet Private Line (EPL)
Point-to-point Ethernet connection providing dedicated bandwidth with Layer 2 transparency for enterprise applications.
QoS (Quality of Service)
Traffic prioritization mechanisms ensuring performance for latency-sensitive applications like VoIP and video conferencing.
MRC/NRC (Monthly/Non-Recurring Charges)
Telecommunications pricing structure separating ongoing subscription costs (MRC) from one-time installation fees (NRC).
Telecommunications Economics
Capital Expenditure (CapEx)
Network infrastructure investments including fiber deployment, equipment purchases, and data center construction requiring long-term ROI analysis.
Examples: Fiber optic cable installation, router/switch purchases, colocation buildouts
Operating Expenditure (OpEx)
Ongoing telecommunications service costs including bandwidth fees, maintenance contracts, and managed services subscriptions.
Examples: Monthly internet circuit fees, cloud service subscriptions, NOC monitoring contracts
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Comprehensive financial analysis including CapEx, OpEx, support costs, and opportunity costs over the service lifecycle.
Components: Initial deployment, ongoing operations, upgrades, training, maintenance, end-of-life
Service Economics Models
Pricing strategies balancing customer value with provider profitability including flat-rate, usage-based, and tiered models.
Models: Committed Information Rate (CIR), burstable billing, volume discounts, term commitments
Industry Standards & References
Standards Organizations
IEEE: Ethernet standards (802.3), wireless standards (802.11)
ITU-T: Telecommunications protocols, optical transport (G.709)
IETF: Internet protocols, RFCs for TCP/IP, routing, VoIP
3GPP: Cellular standards including 4G LTE and 5G NR
Performance Metrics
Availability: 99.9% (8.76 hrs/year) to 99.999% (5.26 min/year)
Latency: One-way delay measured in milliseconds
Throughput: Actual data transfer rate vs. provisioned bandwidth
Packet Loss: Percentage of packets not reaching destination
Service Categories
Layer 1: Dark fiber, wavelength services, optical transport
Layer 2: Ethernet private line, VPLS, Metro Ethernet
Layer 3: MPLS, IP VPN, SD-WAN, internet access
Applications: VoIP, unified communications, cloud connectivity
Deployment Models
Point-to-Point: Dedicated connection between two locations
Point-to-Multipoint: Hub connecting to multiple spokes
Any-to-Any: Full mesh connectivity between all sites
Hybrid: Combination of dedicated, MPLS, and internet circuits