Internet and Network Connection Glossary

Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS)
Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) allows different sites to communicate as if they are connected
to the same LAN. Service providers offer simplified “any to any” (or “multipoint-to-multipoint”)
VPLS service to enterprise customers, allowing enterprises to focus on their core business.
In addition, broadband network operators can use VPLS to efficiently distribute “point-tomultipoint”
traffic such as IPTV to multiple subscribers concurrently.

Autonomous System (AS)
An autonomous system (AS) is a collection of connected Internet Protocol (IP) routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that presents a common, clearly defined routing policy to the Internet.

Multi-Service Access Node (MSAN)
A 'Multi-Service access node' or (MSAN) also known as MSAG or 'Multi-Service Access Gateway' is a device typically installed in a telephone exchange (although sometimes in a roadside serving area interface cabinet) which connects customers' telephone lines to the core network, to provide telephone, ISDN, and broadband such as DSL all from a single platform.



Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS)
A Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS, B-RAS or BBRAS) routes traffic to and from the Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (DSLAM) on an Internet service provider's (ISP) network.

Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM)
A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) allows telephone lines to make faster connections to the Internet. It is a network device, located in the telephone exchanges of the service providers, that connects multiple customer Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs) to a high-speed Internet backbone line using multiplexing techniques.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is one form of the Digital Subscriber Line technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. At the telephone exchange the line generally terminates at a DSLAM where another frequency splitter separates the voice band signal for the conventional phone network.

Digital Loop Carrier (DLC)
A Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) is a system which uses digital transmission to extend the range of the local loop farther than would be possible using only twisted pair copper wires. A DLC digitizes and multiplexes the individual signals carried by the local loops onto a single datastream on the DLC segment.

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