Glossary of electronic communication and postal services


ALPHABETIC ORGANIZATION

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Magnetic card

Type of card which contains a strip with a cover of magnetised material, on which data can be stored, for example, related to its personal user.
06.08.2008
Latest update: 06.08.2008

Main Building Distribution Frame

In portuguese, Repartidor Geral do Edifício (RGE). Device which allows interconnection between the operator networks and the cable networks of the building.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Main Coaxial Cable Distribution Frame

In portuguese, Repartidor Geral de Cabo Coaxial (RG-CC). Device which makes the interconnection between the coaxial cables of several operators and the coaxial cable distribution network of the building.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Main Copper Pair Distribution Frame

In portuguese, Repartidor Geral de Par de Cobre (RG-PC). Device which interconnects the copper pair cables of several operators with the copper pair cable network of the building.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Main Copper Pair Distribution Frame (RG-PC+)

In portuguese, Repartidor Geral de Par de Cobre (RG-PC+). Device which makes the interconnection of the copper pair cables of several operators (in copper pair, coaxial cable or fibre optic) to the copper pair cable network of the building.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Main Fibre Optic Distribution Frame

In portuguese, Repartidor Geral de Fibra Óptica (RG-FO). Device which interconnects the fibre optic cables of several operators to the fibre optic cable network of the building.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Main Riser Box

Riser box which allows the connection from the entry box or the cable entry when that does not exist.
06.08.2008
Latest update: 06.08.2008

Main Telephone

Telecommunications equipment connected by one or more network lines to the switching equipment of an exchange. Includes telephone, telex and data communication type equipment.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mainframe

The main central computer of a system, which has a large storage capacity and high processing speed. Terminals are connected to this machine.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Maintenance

Activity which aims to conserve or repair a system to a state which allows it to perform its functions in a suitable way.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Malleable Tube

Tube which can be bent by hand, requiring reasonable force and which is not desigtned to be bent frequently.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

High speed communications network in a metropolitan area. Implemented in closed form in fibre optic cable. Covers an area larger than a LAN and smaller than a WAN.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Manhole

Subterranean compartment, usually made of concrete, which provides access to conduits and facilitates the passage of cables and storage of their connection joints.
08.08.2008
Latest update: 08.08.2008

Maritime Mobile Service

In portuguese, Serviço Móvel Marítimo (MM). Mobile service between coast stations and ship stations, or between ship stations or between associated on-board communication stations. Survival craft stations and emergency position-indicating radio beacon stations may also participate in this service.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Maritime Mobile-Satellite Service

In portuguese, Serviço Móvel Marítimo por Satélite (MM-S). Mobile-Satellite service in which mobile Earth stations are located on ships. Survival craft stations and emergency position-indicating radio beacon stations may also participate in this service.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Maritime Radionavigation Satellite Service

In portuguese, Serviço de Radionavegação Marítima por Satélite (RVM-S). Radionavigation satellite service in which Earth stations are located on ships.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Maritime Radionavigation Service

In portuguese, Serviço de Radionavegação Marítima (RVM). Radionavigation service intended for the benefit and for the safe operation of ships.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

MBit/s - Megabits/s

Millions of bits per second. Unit to measure the transmission speed of digital information.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mbytes - Megabytes

Millions of bytes. Unit to measure the quantity of digital information.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Memory

Device supported on a disc or magnetic band, among others, which allows the storage of information which is to be processed by an information system.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Memory Capacity

Storage capacity of an information system, measurable for example in characters or bytes.
06.08.2008
Latest update: 06.08.2008

Message Service

Service which allows users to exchange messages among themselves through mailboxes incorporated in network equipment. These message services are available in voice and text, with the latter being commonly known as electronic mail or email.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Message-Based value Added Services

Message-based value added services are information society services provided by means of messages supported by electronic communications services. The use of these services requires the payment by the users, in immediate or deferred form, of a value which is additional to the price of the electronic communications service, as consideration for the provision of the transmitted content by the information, entertainment or other service.
18.03.2010
Latest update: 18.03.2010

Meteorological Aids Service

In portuguese, Serviço de Auxiliares de Meteorologia (METAX). Radiocommunication service used for meteorological, including hydrological, observation and exploration.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Meteorological-Satellite Service

In portuguese, Serviço de Meteorologia por Satélite (MET-S). An earth exploration-satellite service for meteorological purposes.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 10.12.2009

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

High speed communications network in a metropolitan area. Implemented in closed form in fibre optic cable. Covers an area larger than a LAN and smaller than a WAN.
28.10.2010
Latest update: 28.10.2010

MFN - Multifrequency Network

Describes a network whose broadcasting stations transmit on distinct radioelectric channels.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

MFRW - Municipal fee for rights of way

Fees due for rights and charges related to the deployment of, passage within or crossing of systems, equipment and other resources of providers of publicly available electronic communications networks and services at a fixed location, of a public or private municipal domain.
30.01.2009
Latest update: 30.01.2009

MHEG - Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group

Group of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) which developed a set of standards for encoding multimedia and hypermedia information, known by its own abbreviation, e.g. MHEG-5.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

MHz - Megahertz

Multiple of the Hertz unit of frequency, equalling a million Hertz (a million cycles per second).
18.08.2008
Latest update: 25.08.2008

Microcomputer

Small reasonably priced computer, generally known as a personal computer, able to be used in an autonomous way or as a terminal on a more powerful information system.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Micro-Electronics

Technology for manufacturing circuits and electronic devices with very small dimensions, obtained by large scale integration technologies.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Microphone Transmitter

Transmitting microphones attached to clothing - body worn - or handheld with an integrated transmitter.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Microprocessor

Very small dimension processor used in integrated circuits.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Microwaves

Electromagnetic waves with wave lengths in the order of microwaves which correspond to Gigahertz frequencies. These are used for atmospheric transmission of analogue or digital voice signals, data or image, in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connections.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mixed Socket

Client's socket which allows the simultaneous connection of several of the client's terminal equipment from different technologies.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

MM WG - Mobile Market Working Group

Working Group of the Independent Regulators Group (IRG) on Mobile Markets.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

MMDS - Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service

Communications system which uses omni-directional microwaves to carry diverse services, such as video programmes, to subscribers.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service

Text, image, animations and sound messages.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mobile Audio Connection

Audio transmission systems using transmitters installed on motorbikes, bicycles, cars, racing cars or boats. One or both terminals can be used while moving.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mobile Cellular System

Terrestrial mobile telephone system, in which the channels attributed to the service are divided into various geographic ''cells'', which cover a determined service area. A cellular system can reuse the same channels in different cells within the same service area. The use of many small cells with low transmission potential in a determined area allows the intensive reuse of channels thereby increasing the capacity of the system.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Mobile Market Working Group (MM WG)

Working Group of the Independent Regulators Group (IRG) on Mobile Markets.
28.10.2010
Latest update: 28.10.2010

Mobile Phone

Wireless telephone which can be used on a mobile communications network.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Mobile Portability

Ability of a customer of a mobile operator's services to retain a phone number when switching to another mobile operator.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mobile Service

Communications service between non determined points.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Mobile Service with shared resources

In portuguese, Serviço Móvel com Recursos Partilhados (SMRP). Mobile communications system via radio with a tariff independent of the time of conversation, so as to allow the constitution of groups of users in which all the radios communicate with each other. All radios are permanently accessible.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Mobile Telecommunications Services

Telecommunications service in which the subscriber's access is made through a non-fixed type of system, using radioelectric propagation through the air.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Mobile Telephone Network

Public telephone network in which the terminal points are not fixed.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 19.08.2008

Mobile Video Connection in Vehicles

Video transmission systems using transmitters installed on motorbikes, bicycles, cars, race cars or boats. One or both terminals can be used while moving.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mobile Video Connection on Board Aircraft

Video transmission systems using transmitters installed on helicopters or other aircraft.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Mobile-Satellite Service

In portuguese, Serviço Móvel por Satélite (MV-S). A radiocommunication service: - between mobile earth stations and one or more space stations, or between space stations used by this service; or - between mobile earth stations by means of one or more space stations. This service may also include feeder links necessary for its operation.
19.08.2008
Latest update: 10.12.2009

MODEM

Modulator / DEModulator - Equipment which modulates and demodulates digital signals. In modulation it modifies the signal to be sent, so that it may be transmitted in the desired way. In demodulation it reconstructs the received signal, so that it may be understood by the user. It is often used in the conversion of digital signals from computers into analogue signals and vice versa, so that data may be sent and received through analogue telephone lines (such as in Internet connections).
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Modulation

Process of modifying determined characteristics of a carrying wave to that of another wave, so as to adapt a signal being sent by a communications network to the means of transmission to be used. Modulation may be used to transmit data coming from information systems through telephone lines (using a modem).
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Moving Picture Experts Group

Abbreviation: MPEG. Group of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) which developed a set of standards for the codification of audio information and digital video, which became known by the same abbreviation. The most famous of all is MP3, MPEG Audio Layer 3.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

MPEG-2 Compression

Abbreviation: MPEG. Standard for compression of digitalised video images, reducing the bit rate necessary for transmission.
06.08.2008
Latest update: 06.08.2008

MPEG-4

Technical standard of compression of visual signals used in the national digital terrestrial television system, produced by the MPEG expert group, which also developed the MPEG-2 standard, among others. The MPEG-4 standard allows an enhanced compression and a higher capacity to transmit programmes, as well as better conditions to transmit HDTV.
06.04.2009
Latest update: 06.04.2009

Multifrequency Network (MFN)

Describes a network whose broadcasting stations transmit on distinct radioelectric channels.
28.10.2010
Latest update: 28.10.2010

Multimedia

Information available in the format of sounds, data, and images for various means of transmission.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG)

Group of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) which developed a set of standards for encoding multimedia and hypermedia information, known by its own abbreviation, e.g. MHEG-5.
28.10.2010
Latest update: 28.10.2010

Multiple-play

A commercial offering involving a package of 2 or more services provided using an integrated tariff and a single bill.
08.06.2010
Latest update: 08.06.2010

Multiplexer

Device that assembles elements of several sources of information over a shared physical channel (television programmes and data services), i.e., the device that groups several television program services (known as television channels) and broadcasts them over a specific radio frequency or channel, resulting in the output of one digital signal.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Multiplexing

Process which describes the grouping of elements referring to diverse sources of information, including signalisation, on the same physical channel, divided by frequency (FDM), time (TDM) or wavelengths (WDM).
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Multipoint

Term usually applied to the transmission from one point to several points.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Must Carry

The obligation imposed on television platform operators to transport and broadcast/distribute determined television channels.
18.08.2008
Latest update: 18.08.2008

Glossary of electronic communications and postal services

- The definitions and acronyms presented should be understood in the scope of postal services and electronic communications, information and audiovisual technologies respectively.

- The definitions presented aim to facilitate the perception of concepts for citizens in general, and have, wherever possible, been given in a simplified form, not necessarily coinciding with the technical and legal terminologies which strictly speaking, prevail over these.

- Occasionally, to illustrate determined definitions, examples have been used which are in way exhaustive or cover all existing possibilities.

 

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