Here’s a glossary of communications terms and abbreviations, covering telecommunications, networking, broadcasting, digital communications, and related protocols and technologies.
📡 COMMUNICATIONS GLOSSARY
A
Antenna / Transmitter Component – Device that radiates or receives radio waves.
API / Application Programming Interface – Allows software to communicate with other software or services.
ARQ / Automatic Repeat Request – Error control protocol in data transmission.
AES / Advanced Encryption Standard – Symmetric encryption standard for secure communications.
Analog Signal / Continuous Signal – Signal varying continuously over time.
B
Bandwidth / Channel Capacity – Maximum data rate a communication channel can carry.
Base Station / Cellular Network Hub – Central transmitter/receiver in a mobile network.
Bitrate / Data Rate – Amount of data transmitted per second (bps).
Broadcast / One-to-Many Transmission – Transmission from one source to multiple recipients.
Bluetooth / Short-Range Wireless Standard – Wireless communication protocol for devices over short distances.
C
Codec / Compression-Decompression – Algorithm for encoding and decoding data streams.
Cell / Network Coverage Area – Geographic area served by a mobile base station.
Carrier / Signal Transmission Medium – Electromagnetic wave used to carry data.
CDMA / Code Division Multiple Access – Mobile network access technology using spread-spectrum codes.
Cloud Communications / Internet-Based Communication Services – Communication via cloud infrastructure.
D
DSL / Digital Subscriber Line – High-speed internet over telephone lines.
Duplex / Two-Way Communication – Ability to send and receive data simultaneously.
Data Packet / Unit of Transmission – Encapsulated data for network transport.
DNS / Domain Name System – Resolves human-readable domain names to IP addresses.
DVB / Digital Video Broadcasting – Standard for digital television transmission.
E
Ethernet / Wired LAN Standard – Networking protocol for local area networks.
Encryption / Secure Data Transformation – Process of encoding information to prevent unauthorized access.
Error Correction / Forward Error Correction (FEC) – Technique to detect and fix transmission errors.
Endpoint / Network Device – Any device at the end of a communication link.
Extranet / Controlled Network Access – Private network accessible to partners or customers.
F
Frequency / Signal Oscillation Rate – Number of cycles per second of a wave (Hz).
Fiber Optic / Light-Based Transmission – Communication via glass or plastic fibers using light pulses.
Firewall / Network Security Device – Blocks unauthorized network access.
FDD / Frequency Division Duplex – Technique for separating uplink and downlink channels.
FSK / Frequency Shift Keying – Modulation technique for digital signals.
G
Gateway / Network Entry Point – Connects different networks and translates protocols.
GSM / Global System for Mobile Communications – Standard for 2G cellular networks.
GPS / Global Positioning System – Satellite system providing location and time information.
Gigabit / 10^9 Bits – Data transmission rate unit.
GUI / Graphical User Interface – Interface enabling user interaction with communication software.
H
HD Voice / High Definition Audio – Improved voice quality in VoIP or mobile networks.
Hub / Central Networking Device – Connects multiple network devices in LAN.
Half-Duplex / Alternating Communication – Data flows in one direction at a time.
HTTP / Hypertext Transfer Protocol – Protocol for web communications.
HTTPS / Secure HTTP – Encrypted web communication protocol.
I
IP / Internet Protocol – Addressing and routing protocol for data packets.
ISP / Internet Service Provider – Provides internet access to users.
IM / Instant Messaging – Real-time text communication.
IoT / Internet of Things – Network of connected devices communicating via the internet.
IVR / Interactive Voice Response – Automated phone system responding to user input.
J
Jitter / Signal Timing Variation – Variability in packet arrival times affecting real-time communication.
JPEG / Image Compression Format – Common format for transmitting images efficiently.
Join / Network Connection Procedure – Process for a device to connect to a network.
Jam / Signal Interference – Unwanted disruption of communication signals.
JSON / Data Interchange Format – Lightweight format for transmitting structured data.
K
Kbps / Kilobits Per Second – Unit of data transmission speed.
Key Exchange / Encryption Protocol – Method of securely exchanging cryptographic keys.
KVM / Keyboard, Video, Mouse Switch – Device to control multiple computers.
Ka-Band / Satellite Frequency Band – High-frequency band for satellite communication.
Kiosk / Public Communication Terminal – Interactive public device for information or transactions.
L
LAN / Local Area Network – Network covering a small geographical area.
Latency / Transmission Delay – Time taken for a signal to travel from source to destination.
LTE / Long Term Evolution – Standard for high-speed mobile networks (4G).
LNB / Low-Noise Block Converter – Device in satellite dishes for signal reception.
Load Balancer / Network Traffic Controller – Distributes communication traffic across servers.
M
Modem / Modulator-Demodulator – Converts digital data to analog signals and vice versa.
Multiplexing / Combined Data Channels – Technique to send multiple signals over a single channel.
MIMO / Multiple Input, Multiple Output – Antenna technology for higher data throughput.
Mesh Network / Node-Based Communication – Network topology where devices relay data to each other.
Microwave Link / Wireless Line-of-Sight Communication – High-frequency point-to-point communication.
N
Node / Network Device – Any device capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding data.
NFC / Near Field Communication – Short-range wireless communication technology.
Network Protocol / Communication Rules – Set of rules defining data exchange.
NMS / Network Management System – Monitors, manages, and configures networks.
Noise / Signal Interference – Unwanted signal affecting communication quality.
O
Optical Fiber / Light Transmission Medium – High-speed, long-distance communication medium.
OSI Model / Open Systems Interconnection – Seven-layer model describing network communication.
Over-the-Air / OTA – Wireless distribution of updates or signals.
Omnidirectional Antenna / All-Around Signal Coverage – Antenna radiating signals in all directions.
Outage / Service Interruption – Temporary loss of communication service.
P
Packet / Data Unit – Encapsulated unit of network data.
PBX / Private Branch Exchange – Private telephone network within an organization.
Ping / Network Test Tool – Checks connectivity between two network devices.
Protocol / Communication Standard – Rules and conventions for data exchange.
Propagation / Signal Travel – Behavior of radio or light waves as they move through space.
Q
QoS / Quality of Service – Priority management for data transmission.
QAM / Quadrature Amplitude Modulation – Modulation scheme for transmitting digital signals.
Queue / Data Packet Buffer – Temporary storage of packets before transmission.
Query / Information Request – Request sent over a network to retrieve data.
Quantum Communication / Advanced Secure Transmission – Uses quantum mechanics for ultra-secure data transfer.
R
Router / Network Device – Directs data packets between networks.
Repeater / Signal Booster – Extends range by amplifying communication signals.
RF / Radio Frequency – Electromagnetic wave used in wireless communications.
Roaming / Network Mobility – Using a mobile device across different network areas.
RS-232 / Serial Communication Standard – Protocol for serial data transmission.
S
SIP / Session Initiation Protocol – Establishes VoIP communication sessions.
SIM / Subscriber Identity Module – Chip storing mobile subscriber information.
Satellite Communication / Satcom – Wireless communication via orbiting satellites.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio / SNR – Ratio of useful signal to background noise.
SSL / Secure Sockets Layer – Protocol for secure internet communications.
T
TCP / Transmission Control Protocol – Reliable data transmission protocol.
TLS / Transport Layer Security – Encryption protocol succeeding SSL.
Telephony / Voice Communication Technology – Transmission of voice over distances.
Throughput / Effective Data Rate – Actual amount of data transmitted per unit time.
Twisted Pair / Wired Cable Type – Common cabling for Ethernet and telephone lines.
U
UDP / User Datagram Protocol – Unreliable but fast data transmission protocol.
Uplink / Transmit Path – Communication path from device to network.
URL / Uniform Resource Locator – Address used to access resources over the internet.
USB / Universal Serial Bus – Wired interface for data and power.
UHF / Ultra High Frequency – Frequency range for TV, radio, and wireless devices.
V
VoIP / Voice over IP – Voice communication over IP networks.
VPN / Virtual Private Network – Secure communication over a public network.
VLAN / Virtual Local Area Network – Logical segmentation of a LAN.
VHF / Very High Frequency – Frequency range used in broadcasting and radio.
Voice Gateway / VoIP Interface – Converts voice signals between traditional and IP networks.
W
WAN / Wide Area Network – Network spanning large geographical areas.
Wi-Fi / Wireless Fidelity – Wireless networking technology for local area networks.
Wavelength / Signal Property – Distance between wave peaks, determines frequency.
Wireless Mesh / Node-to-Node Communication – Network where nodes relay signals.
WebRTC / Web Real-Time Communication – Browser-based real-time audio/video/data transmission.
X
XML / Extensible Markup Language – Data format for exchanging information over networks.
XDSL / Any DSL Variant – Family of Digital Subscriber Line technologies.
XMPP / Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol – Protocol for instant messaging and presence.
X-Band / Satellite Frequency – Microwave frequency range used in satellite and radar communications.
X-over / Crossover Cable – Ethernet cable connecting similar devices directly.
Y
Yagi Antenna / Directional Antenna – Highly directional antenna for long-distance transmission.
Yotta / 10^24 Data Units – Extremely large measure of data in communications networks.
Yield / Transmission Success Rate – Percentage of successful data transmissions.
Z
Zigbee / Low-Power Wireless Standard – IoT communication standard for short-range networks.
Z-Wave / Home Automation Protocol – Wireless protocol for smart home devices.
Zero-Error Communication / Error-Free Transmission – Ideal communication with no data loss.
Zone / Network Segmentation Area – Part of a network logically separated for security or management.
Z-Buffer / Signal Layer Management – Controls layering or priority in transmitted signals (used in advanced communications hardware).
Published 17th Feb. 2026