Common Terms

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A glossary of common terms used within the telecommunications industry.

ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
CLEC Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
CO Central Office
CSP Communication Service Provider
CTC Cabinet Test Controller
DELT Double Ended Line Test
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
DSLAM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
ILEC Incumbent local exchange carriers
ISMC UTELs Intelligent Switch Matrix Controller
ISP Internet Service Provider
LLU Local Loop Unbundling
MELT Metallic Line Test
MTAM Modular Test Access Matrix
OpEx Operational Expenditure
POTS Plain Old Telephone Services (Voice services)
SELT Single Ended Line Test
TAM Test Access Matrix
TASM Test Access Switch Matrix
Test Head Equipment capable of performing tests on a customers line
VDSL Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line