The document provides a glossary of key networking and technology terms, including definitions for 3G, 4G, 5G, business continuity, distributed enterprises, DSL, Ethernet, IoT, LAN, LTE, and primary connectivity. It highlights the advancements in mobile technology and the importance of backup connectivity for business operations. Additionally, the glossary explains various network architectures and their applications in different sectors.

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Networking 101: A Glossary of
Technology Terms

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3G
3G, short form of third generation, is the third generation of UMTS (universal mobile
telecommunications technology). Also known as HSPA or HSPA+, it delivers connectivity speeds and
bandwidth suitable for powering a wide range of applications.
4G
4G is the fourth generation of mobile technology and brings increased speed and bandwidth to
mobile networks. Also known as “LTE” (Long Term Evolution), 4G is unlocking the true potential of
cellular networking and enabling new applications not previously available on 3G.
5G
5G is the fifth generation of mobile technology, not yet available but undergoing development and
testing today. 5G will offer greater capacity, be faster, more energy-efficient and more cost-effective
than any earlier network in order to meet the expanding network demands of technologies such as
the Internet of Things.
Networking 101
Glossary of Terms

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Business Continuity
Business continuity describes the activities undertaken by an organisation to ensure that any
functions that are critical to the continued running of the business are able to continue in the event
of a serious incident or disaster. This is normally done by assessing the risk to the business of a
range of scenarios, and putting in place plans and systems to mitigate or negate the risk. In terms of
connectivity, we call this “failover”; making sure that a business has back-up connectivity if their
primary connectivity fails.
Distributed Enterprise
A distributed enterprise is an organisation which has a dispersed network of branch locations, as
well as a central head office location which typically manages centralised processes across different
functions. For example retail and restaurant chains or banks. When we talk about the distributed
enterprise in networking specifically, we are referring to geographically-dispersed branches which
are all connected to centralised, back-office systems hosted at a head office location or Network
Operations Centre, which deliver their in-branch applications and services via this connection. This
connection could be fixed line, satellite or cellular.
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DSL
Digital Subscriber Line is a family of technologies that is used to provide internet access by
transmitting digital data over telephone lines.
Ethernet
Ethernet is the most common type of connection used for a local area network where data is
transferred via cable connections.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a scenario in which objects including machines, people and animals
are connected via a network. Data can be passed between the objects, each of which is uniquely
identifiable. A real-world example could be a patient wearing a monitor that transmits health data
for doctors to remotely view on their tablet or PC, rather than having to be at the bedside.
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LAN
Local Area Network (LAN) refers to a computer network that spans a relatively small area such as a
home or business premise.
LTE
LTE stands for "Long Term Evolution" and is another term used to describe 4G mobile technology.
"4G" was originally used to follow on from 3G, but the industry later felt that it didn't appropriately
convey the progress of the technology, so they created "LTE" which has since become a more
recognised term.
Primary Connectivity
Primary connectivity normally refers to the first choice of connectivity a business uses to provide
communication access. In most cases this is the wired public telephone network, although with
connection speeds and reliability improving some businesses are switching to mobile networks.
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