5.3 Broadband Connections

Question 1

BROADBAND

Answer 1

In terms of internet connectivity, it’s used to refer to any connectivity technology that isn’t dial-up internet.

Broadband internet is almost always much faster than even the fastest dial-up connections, and refers to connections that are always on.

Question 2

T-CARRIER

Answer 2

T-carrier technologies were originally invented by AT&T in order to transmit multiple phone calls over a single link.

Question 3

T1 Specification

Answer 3

With the T1 specification, AT&T invented a way to carry up to 24 simultaneous phone calls across a single piece of twisted pair copper.

Over the years, the phrase T1 has come to mean any twisted pair copper connection capable of speeds of 1.544 megabits per second.

Question 4

AT3 Line

Answer 4

AT3 line is 28 T1s all multiplexed, achieving a total throughput speed of 44.736 megabits per second.

Question 5

DSL

Answer 5

Digital Subscriber Line

Question 6

DSLAMS

Answer 6

Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers

Question 7

LONG RUNNING

Answer 7

Long running means that the connection is generally established when the DSLAM is powered on and isn’t torn down until the DSLAM is powered off.

Question 8

ADSL

Answer 8

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

ADSL connections feature different speeds for outbound and incoming data.

Question 9

SDSL

Answer 9

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line

Upload and download speeds are the same.

Question 10

HDSL

Answer 10

High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Lines

These are DSL technologies that provision speeds above 1.544 megabits per second.

Question 11

CABLE BROADBAND

Answer 11

By using frequencies that don’t interfere with television broadcast, cable-based internet access technologies were able to deliver high speed Internet access across these same cables.

Cable is generally what’s known as a shared bandwidth technology.

Question 12

CABLE MODEM

Answer 12

The device that sits at the edge of a consumer’s network and connects it to the cable modem termination system or CMTS.

Question 13

CMTS

Answer 13

Cable Modem Termination System

The CMTS is what connects lots of different cable connections to an ISP’s core network.

Question 14

FTTN

Answer 14

Fiber To The Neighborhood

This means that fiber technologies are used to deliver data to a single physical cabinet that serves a certain amount of the population.
From this cabinet, twisted pair copper or coax might be used for the last length of distance.

Question 15

FTTB

Answer 15

Fiber To The Building, Business, or even Basement

FTTB is a setup where fiber technologies are used for data delivery to an individual building.
After that, twisted pair copper is typically used to actually connect those inside of the building.

Question 16

FTTH

Answer 16

Fiber To The Home.

This is used in instances where fiber is actually run to each individual residence in a neighborhood or apartment building.

Question 17

FTTP

Answer 17

Fiber To The Premises

FTTH and FTTB may both also be referred to as FTTP.

Question 18

ONT

Answer 18

Optical Network Terminator

The demarcation point for fiber technologies is known as optical network terminator or ONT.
ONT converts data from protocols the fiber network can understand to those that more traditional twisted pair copper networks can understand.