Glossary

1 June 2007 — James Pole

Here is a glossary of words I use throughout my site:-

  • 027 — Refers to Telecom’s modern CDMA network.
  • 3G
    • Abbrevation for Third Generation Technology.
    • This either refers to Vodafone’s new network (which is capable of advanced features such as Video Calling and High Speed Internet access) and/or the parts of Telecom’s 027 network which has been upgraded to allow High Speed Internet access.
  • Back-Haul — Refers to the connection between a cell site and the central network switch. This connection can be made using wired or wireless connections. 
  • BellSouth — BellSouth used to operate what is now Vodafone’s network until the sale of the network to Vodafone in November 1998.
  • CDMA
    • Abbrevation for Code Division Multipule Access.
    • Generally, CDMA refers to a modern approach to sharing radio spectrum which allows for many people to access radio spectrum at the same time. Telecom’s 027 network and Vodafone’s 3G network uses this approach of sharing radio spectrum.
    • CDMA can also refer to the specific protocol Telecom is using for their 027 network — i.e. the IS-95B standard. This is in contrast to Vodafone who use the UMTS protocol/standard for their 3G network. While UMTS does use the CDMA radio technology, it is not usually referred to as ‘CDMA’.
  • Econet Wireless — A company that plans to establish a ‘third’ mobile network in New Zealand.
  • GSM
    • Global System for Mobile phones.
    • This refers to the global standard used by over 300 companies in over 180 countries around the world. This standard has been superceded by the newer UMTS standard, although UMTS still retains a lot of features from GSM.
    • This standard is used by Vodafone in New Zealand. There have been various plans over the years for Econet Wireless, Telecom New Zealand and/or TelstraClear to build their own GSM network to compete with Vodafone’s network but they have never happened.
  • MED
    • Abbrevation for the Ministry of Economic Development.
    • The MED are reponsible for authorising Radio Licences for each Cell Site in New Zealand. Any cell site in New Zealand must be on their database, so their database is a good source of regulatory information about Cell Sites in New Zealand.
  • Microwave (Microwave dish, Microwave link)
    • A microwave link is a point-to-point wireless link between two locations. Unlike broadcast tranmission (such as TV, Radio, etc which everyone receives) point-to-point link is a direct link between two locations only. These links are used by all networks for the purpose of creating a back-haul connection to the network.
    • Vodafone and Woosh Wireless are very big users of microwave links, as they prefer not to lease copper/fibire links from Telecom’s landline network. However they do use leased lines in extereme cases. Telecom on the other hand take advantage of the fact they have ‘free’ access to their own fibre/copper networks so they only use microwave links in extereme cases.
    • A microwave dish is the equipment used to create microwave links. There is a microwave dish at each end of the point-to-point link. Sometimes microwave dishes can look a bit like satellite dishes, but the usual type of dishes used by networks in New Zealand looks more like a cup on its side.
  • Telecom — Telecom New Zealand
  • UMTS
    • Universal Mobile Telephone Standard.
    • This refers to the global standard used by many companies for their 3G services. CDMA is the main competitor to this standard, however UMTS is quickly becoming the most dominant standard. UMTS is mainly an extenstion of the GSM standard, so it shares a lot of features (such as SIM Cards) with GSM. 
    • At present only Vodafone and Woosh Wireless are using this standard in New Zealand — however in the future Econet Wireless and Telecom will be establishing new networks using this standard.
  • Vodafone
    • Refers to Vodafone New Zealand.
    • Vodafone took over the exisiting BellSouth network in November 1998, so in some of my articles I may refer to BellSouth when discussing events taking place before the takeover.
    • Vodafone has many networks around the world, but when I refer to ‘Vodafone’ on this site I am referring to the New Zealand network. When I refer to any non-New-Zealand networks operated by Vodafone I will include the country — i.e. Vodafone Spain.
  • Woosh Wireless — A wireless broadband provider using the UMTS standard. It is not a cellular provider, however they do have a decent network of cell sites in the main cities.

References:-

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