ANACOM - Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações
Glossary of electronic communication and postal services

ALPHABETIC ORGANIZATION

Show Glossary Notes

Earpiece Monitoring

Miniature receptors with earpieces for personal monitoring of one or two sound tracks.

Earth Exploration-Satellite Service

In portuguese, Serviço de Exploração da Terra por Satélite (EXP-S). A radiocommunication service between earth stations and one or more space stations, which may include links between space stations, in which: - information relating to the characteristics of the Earth and its natural phenomena, including data relating to the state of the environment, is obtained from active sensors or passive sensors on Earth satellites; - similar information is collected from airborne or Earth-based platforms; - such information may be distributed to earth stations within the system concerned; - platform interrogation may be included. This service may also include feeder links necessary for its operation.

e-Commerce

Purchase or sale of goods/services, making use of electronic communication systems and technologies, particularly the Internet.

EDGE - Enhanced Data Rates for GSM/DCS Evolution

Evolution of the GSM systems which allows for transmission at speeds of up to 384 Kbps.

EDI - Electronic Data Interchange

Electronic transfer of data (namely related to the process of ordering, invoicing and payments) through public communication networks. The technology used is similar to email but uses a higher level of security. EDI operators use computers which perform the necessary centralised processing.

Electromagnetic Compatibility

Where the electromagnetic characteristics of a piece of equipment or a device are engineered in such a way as not to interfere with other nearby equipment.

Electronic Communications Network

Transmission systems and, where applicable, switching or routing equipment and other resources which permit the conveyance of signals by wire, by radio, by optical or by other electromagnetic means, including satellite networks, fixed (circuit- and packet-switched, including Internet) and mobile terrestrial networks, electricity cable systems, to the extent that they are used for the purpose of transmitting signals, networks used for radio and television broadcasting, and cable television networks, irrespective of the type of information conveyed (Law no. 5/2004 of 10 February).

Electronic Communications Services

Service normally provided for remuneration which consists wholly or mainly in the conveyance of signals on electronic communications networks, including telecommunications services and transmission services in networks used for broadcasting, without prejudice to the exclusion referred to in point b) of paragraph 1 of article 2 (Law no. 5/2004 of 10 February).

Electronic Communications Universal Service

The minimum set of services, defined in the Electronic Communications Law (Law no. 5/2004 of 10 February), of a specified quality, which is available to all users regardless of their geographical location and, in the light of national conditions, at an affordable price.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Electronic transfer of data (namely related to the process of ordering, invoicing and payments) through public communication networks. The technology used is similar to email but uses a higher level of security. EDI operators use computers which perform the necessary centralised processing.

Electronic Document

Document created through the electronic processing of data.

Electronic Mail Box

Part of a computer's memory, reserved for the reception and storage of electronic mail messages.

Electronic News Gathering (ENG)

Set of video and/or audio equipment without use of film or recorders, which uses small electronic cameras and/or microphones, and radioelectric connections to news studios.

Electronic Programming Guide (EPG)

Software which extracts data from programmes and presents it in the form of an on-screen guide, used for example in digital television. The guide presents information about current and future programming on each channel. The users may also use the on-screen menus to order pay-per-view services or access interactive services.

Electronic Signature

Result of an electronic data process that can constitute an object of individual and exclusive right and be used as a means of ascertaining the author of an electronic document to which it has been attached, in such a way that: i) It provides unequivocal identification of the document's author; ii) Its addition to the document depends only on the will of the title holder; iii) Its connection with the document enables detection to all alterations made to its content.

Email

System for sending messages in electronic format, which enables the user to send a message almost instantaneously through a communications network to one or more people all over the world (the message may include text, voice, images and video). The equipment used to access an electronic mailbox may be, for example, a computer, a television or a mobile phone. Normally, email users have an ''inbox'' on the network where the other users can send messages to be recovered by the receiver. The network used for the transmission may be the internet, a local network or others.

email Address

Identification of a determined Internet user for the purpose of exchanging email. It is generally made up of one or more names, separated by points, followed by the symbol ''@'' then by the server address to which it is connected for this purpose.

Emission

Sending of energy through external means, in the form of electric currents or electromagnetic waves, which carry information.

EMS - Enhanced Message Service

Technology which allows mobile users to send and receive text, images, animations and sound.

Emulation

The simulation of one piece of equipment by another. A personal computer can simulate a terminal, in relation to a central system.

EN 300 744

European standard of ETSI for the DVB-T system.

Encoding

Used with respect to telecommunications to mean the process of converting information to a format suitable for the transmission channel used, so that the information can be converted back to its initial format later. A television signal may be encoded in analogue format (PAL or NTSC for example) or digital format (MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 for example).

Encoding/compression

Expression frequently used when encoding and compression operations are carried out in a single component, normally called an encoder, such as, for example, in the case of digital encoding MPEG-2.

Encryption (scrambling)

The process of making a determined flow of information unintelligible for all who do not possess the appropriate key. This process is also often known as encoding.

ENG - Electronic News Gathering

Set of video and/or audio equipment without use of film or recorders, which uses small electronic cameras and/or microphones, and radioelectric connections to news studios.

Enhanced Broadcasting

Television services which include interactive applications, with access to diverse multimedia information.

Enhanced Data Rates for GSM/DCS Evolution (EDGE)

Evolution of the GSM systems which allows for transmission at speeds of up to 384 Kbps.

Enhanced Message Service (EMS)

Technology which allows mobile users to send and receive text, images, animations and sound.

Entry Box

Box located at the internal end of the cable entrance and where, as a rule, derivation or connecting devices are stored, for the interconnection of the collective cable network to the entry cable.

Entry Box for Detached Houses

In portuguese, Caixa de Entrada de Moradia Unifamiliar (CEMU). Box used in detached houses, for the storage of derivation or transition devices. This box makes the transition between public telecommunication networks and individual cable networks.

Entry Cable

Cable which extends the public distribution network to the building's cable network (this cable is connected to the primary or the entrance of the main distribution frame of the building or private block of the subscriber). When the distribution point is situated inside the building, the entry cable is partly integrated with the public distribution network. When the distribution point is situated outside the building, the entry cable is partly integrated with the intermediary network.

EPG - Electronic Programming Guide

Software which extracts data from programmes and presents it in the form of an on-screen guide, used for example in digital television. The guide presents information about current and future programming on each channel. The users may also use the on-screen menus to order pay-per-view services or access interactive services.

ERC - European Radiocommunications Committee

Replaced by the ECC - Electronic Communications Committee.

Erlang

Unit to measure the volume of traffic corresponding to the number of calls in course simultaneously at a given moment or an average taken over a given period of time.

ERO

European Radiocommunications Office (CEPT).

Ethernet

Type of local network (LAN). Also describes the type of cable and method of access.

European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC)

Replaced by the ECC - Electronic Communications Committee.

Exit box

Box to store a terminal device.

Extranet

Area of an Intranet which can be accessed externally by means of authorised entry.
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