Glossary

XDSL: Term used to describe a family of digital subscriber line technologies (eg. ADSL, VDSL, HDSL).

HFC (Hybrid fibre coaxial cable): A shared broadband access architecture using optical fibre between exchanges and hubs in suburban streets, and coaxial cables between the hubs and customers to carry cable services.

ISP (Internet service provider): Provides individuals and other companies access to the Internet and other related services such as Web site building and virtual hosting.

POP (point of presence): Physical access point to the Internet.

PING times: Ping is a basic Internet program which lets you verify an IP address exists. Loosely, the term means "to get the attention of" or "to check for the presence of" another party online. When it has determined that the IP address is valid, the program will then send files to that address and can also accept requests. The computer acronym (for Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper) was designed to match the submariners' term for the sound of a returned sonar pulse.

Router: A router is a stand-alone device (much like another PC) which sits between the PC or network and the Internet and determines where and what information should be sent and received between them. It also acts as a security device by preventing unauthorised access by other PCs to that network or PC. As a whole, routers can be found at any gateway between a network and the Internet, or at the junction between two different networks. In broadband, a router can be used to share information from the Internet to a network by simply plugging in the modem at one end, and the LAN connection in the other.