Glossary

Glossary - I

IN - Intelligent Network

This is a telecommunications network within which the network intelligence becomes centralised and then separated from the switching function.

Inbound Signaling

Inbound signaling works by using not only use the same channel path as voice traffic, but also the same frequency range which (band) is used for the voice traffic.

Incremental revenue

This is the additional revenue that is derived from selling a service as a part of a bundle.

Independent Telephone Company (ITC)

ITC is the local exchange carrier and is not one of the 22 companies that are divested Bell-operating companies. ITCs aren't generally subject to restrictions propsed by the MFJ, but, some of the larger companies are bound by a separate form of consent decrees. From a regulatory point of view Cincinnati Bell and Southern New England Telephone are generally considered ITCs.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)

This is a completely digital telecommunications network access method that works over copper wires. It involves two types of ISDN, first, the basic rate and second, the primary rate. The basic rate ISDN provides the subscriber with two 64 kbps channels of information and then a single 16 kbps channel for control. The primary rate provides the user with thirty 64 kbps channels of information and alse a 64 kbps control channel.

Intelligent Network

This is a telecommunications network within which the network intelligence is actually centralised and also separated from the switching functions. It allows for more flexibility than the switched based systems, and customers can also be given access to their own database entries to carry out changes.

Interconnection

The linking (whether it is directly or indirectly or by physical or logical means, or if it is by a combination of physical/ logical means) of a Public Electronic Communications Network to another PECN for the sole purpose of enabling the person using one of them: (A) communicate to users of the other one; or alternatively (b) make use of the services that are provided by means of the other (this happens whether it is by the provider of that Network or by another person).

International number

To obtain a called party in another country this is the number to be dialled following the international prefix.

Internet

The internet is a collection of connected networks, that primarily exist in the United States that supports the running of the Internet suite of protocols. It is sometimes referred to as DARPA Internet or NSF/DARPA Internet, or even the Federal Research Network. It enables a world-wide network of computer networks (which users at any one computer can-only if they've permission- gain access to information from any other computer). This idea was first conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) an arm of the US government in 1969. It was first known as Arpanet. However, since then it has become demilitarised and commercialised and also augmented by a whole series of inventions and innovations. The main one of these is the web browser that was invented by a team headed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991 at CERN (the European Laboratory for Particle Physics). This formed the basis for the World Wide Web that has become so successful now it is often confused in contemporary conversation with the Internet itself.

Internet service provider

This is a service provider that provides access to the Internet services.

Internet suite of protocols

The internet suite of protocols exists as collection of computer-communication protocols that were originally developed under DARPA sponsorship. This includes the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP).

Internet Telephony

See IP Telephony.

Intranet

This is a closed data network that links a number of sites by using standard internet protocols.

IP - Internet Protocol

This is the packet data protocol that is used for the routing and carriage of messages across Internet and similar networks.

IPX

Internetwork packet exchange.

IP Telephony

This is also known as Internet Telephony or alternatively, Voice over IP (VoIP). It is the use of Internet Protocol (IP, see TCP/IP) in order to carry and also route a two-way voice communication. IP Telephony supports telephone to telephone links by using suitable adapters but also by using voice communications from a telephone to IP terminal (for example a PC with sound card). It can also be used from IP terminal to IP terminal. This technique promises to drastically reduced the costs to carriers and subsequently prices to end users – however, it still suffers from problems with quality.

ISDN

Please see Integrated Services Digital Network.

ISP

Internet Service Provider. Thsi provides the access point to the Internet for small business and also individual users. The ISP provides customers with a dial-up access for its router which in turn relays traffic to other web servers on the Internet.

ITC

Independent telephone company.

ITU

International Telecommunications Union.

IVR

Integrated voice response.