| 3G |
| The generic term, 3G, is used to denote the next generation of mobile
systems designed to support high-speed data transmission (144 Kbps and
higher) and Internet Protocol (IP)-based services in fixed, portable and
mobile environments. As envisaged by the ITU, the 3G system will integrate
different service coverage zones and be a global platform and the necessary
infrastructure for the distribution of converged service, whether mobile or
fixed, voice or data, telecommunications, content or computing. |
|
| ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) |
| ADSL is a broadband access standard which uses existing copper lines to
offer high-speed digital connections over the local loop. ADSL transmits data
asymmetrically, meaning that the bandwidth usage is much higher in one
direction than the other. ADSL provides greater bandwidth from the
exchange to the customer (ie. downloading) than from the customer to the
exchange (ie. sending). |
|
| ARPU |
| Vodacom’s average monthly revenue per customer, or ARPU, is calculated
by dividing the average monthly revenue during the period by the average
monthly total reported customer base during the period. ARPU excludes
revenue from equipment sales, other sales and services and revenue from
national and international users roaming on Vodacom’s networks. |
|
| ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) |
| ATM is a high-speed Wide Area Network (WAN), connection-oriented,
packet-switching data communications protocol that allows voice, data and
video to be delivered across existing local and Wide Area Networks. ATM
divides data into cells and can handle data traffic in bursts. It is
asynchronous, in that the stream of cells from one particular user is not
necessarily continuous. |
|
| Bandwidth |
| Bandwidth is a measure of the quantity of signals that can travel over a
transmission medium such as copper or a glass fibre strand. It is the available
space available to carry a signal. The greater the bandwidth, the greater the
information carrying capacity. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second. |
|
| Broadband |
| Broadband is a method of measuring the capacity of different types of
transmission. Digital bandwidth is measured in the rate of bits transmitted
per second (bps). For example, an individual ISDN channel has a bandwidth
of 64 kilobits per second (Kbps), meaning that it transmits 64,000 bits
(digital signals) every second. |
|
| CAGR |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate. |
|
| Carrier pre-selection |
| Carrier pre-selection is usually initiated by the telecoms Regulator. It enables
individuals to choose which telecom will carry their traffic (mainly long
distance) by a signalling contract rather than having to dial extra digits. |
|
| CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) |
| CDMA is one of many technologies for digital transmission of radio signals
between, for example, mobile telephones and radio base stations. In CDMA,
which is a spread-spectrum modulation technology, each call is assigned a
unique “pseudorandom” sequence of frequency shifts that serve as a code to
distinguish it. The mobile phone is then instructed to decipher only a particular
code to pluck, as it were, the right conversation off the air. CDMA is the
technology of choice for 3G mobile systems. CDMA, however, also refers to a
particular air-interface standard (a fact that is often a source of confusion). |
|
| Circuit |
| A circuit is a connection or line between two points. This connection can
be made through various media, including copper, coaxial cable, fibre or
microwave. A telephone exchange is a circuit switch. |
|
| DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) |
| DECT is the standard for cordless telephones. DECT phones communicate using
the PSTN (public switched telephone network) through a small base station in
the home or office and have a working radius of between 50 and 300 metres. |
|
| EBITDA |
| EBITDA represents profit for the year before taxation, finance charges,
investment income and depreciation, amortisation, impairment and write-offs. |
|
| EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM evolution) |
| EDGE is a technology designed to enhance GSM and TDMA systems with
respect to data rates and is widely considered to be the GSM evolution
beyond GPRS. It enhances the data capabilities of GSM and TDMA systems
by altering the RF modulation scheme to allow greater data rates per time
slot. Because it uses a different modulation technique across the airinterface,
EDGE requires different mobile terminals/handsets than those
designed for the GSM air-interface. |
|
| Effective tax rate |
| The effective tax rate is the tax charge in the income statement divided by
pre-tax profit. |
|
| EMOTEL |
| Empresa Mocambicana de Telecommunicacoes. |
|
| Ethernet |
| Ethernet is a protocol that defines how data is transmitted to and received
from LANs. It is the most prevalent LAN protocol, with speeds of up to
10 Mbps. |
|
| Fibre optics |
| Fibre optics is where messages or signals are sent via light rather than
electrical signals down a very thin strand of glass. Light transmission
enables much higher data rates than conventional wire, coaxial cable and
many forms of radio. Signals travel at the speed of light and do not
generate nor are subject to interference. |
