Jargon buster

see Primary Rate Interface

Primary Rate Interface (PRI) is part of an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) configuration. It works on a larger scale compared to Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and is utilised by large users/enterprises. A common term heard is the connection of a “PRI Card” on a phone system.

A Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or telephone system is a control unit that primarily facilitates audio/video calls to a user’s site, or sites. Depending on its specification, a range of additional intuitive features can give users all the help they need during their calls: including queue announcements, live status monitoring, activity reports, automatic conversation recording and scheduled backup and reports.

A Private Wide Area Network (PWAN) is the joining of multiple broadband/ethernet connections to create robust and scalable network solution that is located in secure data centres with a centralised firewall.

A set of procedures in telecommunications connections that the terminals or nodes use to send signals back and forth.  

see Public Switched Telephone Network

see Power Supply Unit

See Postal, Telegraph and Telephone service.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a global term for the interconnection of public telephone networks over copper-based materials. They are primarily used for voice calls, fax machines, franking machines, card processing machines and connecting a modem for dial up internet (old technology). It is the foundation line for allowing DSL Services to operate.

Private Wide Area Network

see Private Wide Area Network

Q Signalling (QSIG) is the signalling protocol for ISDN which is utilised in Voice over IP (VoIP) networks and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).