Left navigation | Content

Group's latest newsGroup's latest news

mediacentermediacenter

A full web solution to search for corporate images of the France Telecom Orange Group...

mediacenter

job boardjob board

documentsdocuments

flashcardsflashcards

bookmarksbookmarks

to save your bookmarks, please enable javascript or add the pages that interest you

products and servicesproducts and services

France Telecom sharepriceFrance Telecom shareprice

glossaryglossary

  • dense wavelength dvision multiplexing (DWDM)

    Transmission technology based on multiplexing wavelengths in a fiber optic, enabling very high speed (up to 10 Gigabits per second) information transfers over long distance networks.

  • surf wi-fi pack

    Broadband Internet access distribution service.
  • TPSA

    Telekom Polska SA.
  • Stirling (Stirling engine or combustion machine)

    Closed cycle engine. This engine’s specific feature concerns its use of an external heat source causing the gas in the engine to alternatively dilate and compress, providing mechanical power in this way.
  • spam

    Flooding numerous users’ email accounts by sending unsolicited “junk” electronic messages to promote products or services.
  • UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System)

    Third generation (see 3G) mobile telephone standard enabling high volume communication (2 Mbits/s in symmetrical volume) on frequency bands of 1.9 to 2.2 GHz.
  • videophony

    Technique making it possible to call and view the person called onscreen, displaying photos, videos and using MMS services, transmitting sound and images in real-time through a telephone line using a videophone.
  • ARCEP

    (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Electroniques et des Postes) French regulatory authority for electronic and postal communications.
  • Tbit/s (Terabits per second)

    Trillions of bits transferred per second on a transmission network.
  • TDD (Time Division Duplexing)

    Means of allocating UMTS frequencies, based on allocating distinct time slots for the uplink  and the downlink on the same frequency channel.
  • SAR

    Specific Absorption Rate Quantity of radiation absorbed by the human body (SAR on the entire body) or by the head (local SAR).

  • RoHS

    Reduction of Hazardous Substances European directive which strictly limited the use of certain hazardous substances that represent a threat to human health and the environment in some electronic and electrical products.
  • DSL (digital subscriber line)

    Technologies enabling the use of copper cables connecting subscribers for Public Switched Telephone Networks up to complete broadband transfers of digital packets.
  • SD

    Sustainable Development.
  • DSLAM (digital subscriber line access multiplexer)

    DSL equipment for the demodulating of subscriber ADSL modems and the first level of aggregation for data transport on IP networks. The equipment is also used to filter voice and data.
  • Sarbanes Oxley (SOX or SARBOX)

    US financial security law. It is intended to increase the level of financial security, offer the market greater transparency, and therefore restore investor confidence.
  • MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)

    This service is an extension of SMS and email, enabling users to send multimedia documents through GPRS and UMTS mobile telephone networks and terminals.

  • ATM

    (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) broadband multiplexing technology that utilizes connected packets (ATM packets) to carry different types of traffic with guaranteed quality.
  • MHz

    Frequency measurement corresponding to one million cycles per second for an electric current (radio frequency) or a clock speed for microprocessors (computer).
  • OFCOM

    Office of Communications National telecommunications regulator in the United Kingdom.
  • Re-ADSL

    The new Re-ADSL technology, with “Re” standing for extended network, is making it possible for Internet users in regions not covered by ADSL to enjoy access to unlimited broadband at a special offer price.
  • OHSAS 18001

    The international OHSAS 18001 specification applies to all types of organizations making it possible to evaluate and certify their health and safety at work management system.
  • multiplexing

    Technique to simultaneously transfer several communications on a same transmission channel.
  • VOD (Video On Demand)

    Possibility to select digital video content and download it from a central server on to a computer or television.
  • multiplay

    Access solution for multiple services (Internet, television, Voice over IP) through a single broadband access point.
    Livebox (see) is the multiplay solution offered by Orange.
  • autonomous system

    (AS) group of IP routers managed by a single administrative entity using a common routing protocol (Internet Gateway Protocol), and identified by a unique Autonomous System Number (ASN).
  • WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)

    Protocol optimizing Internet access from mobile terminals.
  • wide area network (WAN)

    Network spanning several buildings or a town or city.
  • ART

    (Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications) French telecommunications regulatory authority.

  • ICNIRP

    International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Linked to the WHO, this commission has defined exposure limits forprotecting individuals against the health effects of electromagnetic waves.
  • EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution)

    Radio technology representing the intermediary stage between GRPS and UMTS, which is based on using existing GSM radio frequencies and four times faster than GPRS.
  • ISO 14001

    International standard setting out the requirements for creating and certifying an EMS.
  • ICPE (installation classée pour la protection de l’environnement)

    Under French regulations, this environmental protection classification refers to facilities that may present a danger.
  • PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)

    A handheld computer with memory of up to several megabits and a touch-sensitive screen, often using a stylus to input data.
  • MPPI

    Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative, it groups the main telecom’s actors, which  want to contribute to the development of codes of good conduct for the collection, cross-border transfer and reconditioning of used mobile phones.
  • OEM

    Electromagnetic waves Propagation of electrical and magnetic energy over the air, via the radio relay channel.
  • OECD

    Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development groups together 30 member countries, which are all committed to democracy and the market economy.
  • local loop

    Section of the telephone network connecting the local telephone switch to individual subscribers’ homes.
  • virtual mobile operator

    Operators that do not build and operate their own mobile network, but instead have access to the networks of one or more mobile operators and offer their own branded services to customers using another operator’s network.
  • OPEX

    Operating expenses included in the determination of the gross operating margin (GOM), including: labour expenses (wages and employee benefit expenses).
  • NAS (Network Access Server)

    Sideline IP network equipment for the concentration of telephone modem accesses for the switched telephone network and connection to the IP network.
  • IP

    One of the two main communications protocols between networks (the other protocol is ATM), notably used on Internet and Intranet networks. IP is a specific transfer protocol based on the principle of packet switching.
  • ethernet

    Technology for local network connections with computers connected by a combination of network interface cards installed on each PC and by coaxial cables linking the workstations at a rate of 10 Mbits/s.
  • integrated service digital network

    (ISDN) digital network for the transmission of integrated information: data, voice and video. France Telecom’s commercial name for these services is Numéris.
  • virtual private network (VPN)

    Group of logically organized communications resources from the Public Switched Telephone Network that are offered by providers to clients as a private network.
  • wide area network

    (WAN) network spanning several buildings or a town or city.
  • Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity)

    Technology enabling the connection of wireless equipment using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz wavelength, at speeds of 11MBit/s (802.11b standard) or 54 Mbit/s (802.11g standard).
  • wimax

    Wireless broadband transmission standard operating at 70 Mbit/s (802.16 standard), which enables several Wi-Fi access points to connect to a fiber optic network and therefore increase the range of Wi-Fi networks.
  • X 25

    Standardized communications protocol enabling a link to be established between two pieces of equipment using a network known as a “packet switch”.
  • bluetooth

    wireless transmission technology enabling the construction of medium-speed (around 700 Kbits/s) and short-range
    personal networks, most notably point-to-point exchanges between fixed and mobile devices.

  • number of employees (active employees at end of period)

    The number of persons working on the last day of the period, including both indefinite and fixed-term contracts.
  • internet service provider (ISP)

    Company that provides access to the Internet for individual subscribers, businesses and corporations.
  • average number of employees (full-time equivalents)

    Average number of active employees over the period, prorated by their work time, including indefinite and fixed-term contracts.
  • backbone

    Fiber optic backbone transmission network for long distance and very high capacity services (see DWDM and SDH).
  • BAS

    broadband access grouper that collects incoming and outgoing traffic to DSLAMs, covering the interconnection with the operator’s IP network. The BAS represents an essential part of an operator’s ADSL network. This grouping equipment handles the management of user sessions (authentication, traffic control, etc.) and the concentration of Internet traffic.
  • GOM CAPEX

    Indicator of the gross operating margin (GOM) less capital expenditures on tangible and intangible assets excluding telecommunication licenses and excluding investments financed through finance leases (CAPEX).
  • ATM

    broadband multiplexing technology that utilizes connected packets (ATM packets) to carry different types of traffic with guaranteed quality.
  • FDD (frequency division duplex)

    Means of allocating UMTS frequencies, assigning a distinct frequency channel for the uplink (from the mobile terminal to the base station) and another for the downlink (base station to the mobile terminal).

  • GOM

    Gross operating margin. Revenues less external purchases, other operating expenses (net of other operating income) and labour expenses (wages and employee benefit expenses).
  • Switches

    Telephone call management systems with three functions: interconnection (between an incoming and outgoing connection), call management and administrative orders.
  • white zone

    Local area not covered by ADSL or mobile telephony services.
  • CRM

    (Customer Relationship Management) dedicated applications that enable a company to better know each client, and therefore offer more targeted products and services, ensuring better client satisfaction.
  • WEEE

    European directive of January 27th, 2003 2002/96/EC, concerning waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
  • router

    Interconnection gateway between several servers installed on a network node, designed to optimize data transmission and give users access to all available services on this network.
  • public switched telephone network

    Voice transfer network consisting of handsets, subscriber lines, circuits and switches. Also used to access certain data services.
  • semaphore signal code 7

    Exchange of information required for the management of a telephone call (completion and break, maintenance and supervision and billing) completed in a digital form by a distinct network to the one used for the call itself.

  • BAS

    (Broadband Access Server) broadband access grouper that collects incoming and outgoing traffic to DSLAMs, covering the interconnection with the operator’s IP network.
  • SMS (Short Message Service)

    Communications service based on short written messages on mobile telephone handsets and networks.

  • multi-site broadband service

    Solution enabling a company to connect several sites in a single city or region up to transfer voice, data and image information at speeds of up to 2.5 Gbits.
  • CFCs

    (chlorofluorocarbons) chemical substances used as refrigerating gases in cooling systems for switches.
  • VoIP (Voice over Internet protocol)

    Voice over IP Technique making it possible to incorporate voice into data transmitted in packets over a network using the Internet protocol.
  • DCS 1800

    Digital Cellular System 1800) or GSM 1800 wireless operating system using the GSM standard applied to the 1800Mhz wavelength and adapted to micro-cellular networks.
  • frame relay

    Data transmission protocol, which only uses the first two layers of the model for the international OSI (“Open System Interconnection”) standard designed to facilitate network interconnection.
  • change in the total working capital requirements

    Change in the operating working capital requirements, plus change in other receivables, plus change in other liabilities.
  • unbundling

    Obligation for operators owning local loops to provide a third party operator with pairs of bare copper wires. The unbundling of the local loop can be shared or full.
  • change in the operating working capital requirements

    Change in net inventories, plus change in trade receivables, plus change in trade payables (excluding non-current asset suppliers).
  • UN

    United Nations.
  • DECT

    (Digital European Cordless Telephone) European wireless standard on the 1880-1900 MHz wavelength, using digital compression.
  • centrex

    Service enabling one or more businesses to use a public automatic switch while benefiting from all the services available on a PABX (private automatic switch for businesses).
  • UKE

    Urzàd Komunikacji Elektronicznej National telecommunications regulator in Poland.
  • churn rate (PCS business segment)

    Churn rate is calculated by dividing the total number of customers who disconnect from its network for the previous 12 months by the weighted average number of customers over the same period.
  • UNEP

    United Nations Environment Program.
  • PABX (Private Automatic Branch eXchange)

    Also called PBX: private business switch.
  • intranet

    Local network that uses the same protocols and technologies as the Internet, but which relies on a private set of computers and is not open to all Internet users.
  • synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

    very high speed fiber optic transmission standard that enables the transport of packets of information at various speeds in a secure manner, while facilitating their management.
  • NRA

    Subscriber connection nodes or switches towards which subscriber telephone lines are directed.

  • hotspot

    Wi-Fi access point situated in a busy public location providing mobile terminal users (laptops, PDAs) with wireless Internet access at speeds from 11 to 54 Mbit/s, depending on the Wi-Fi standard used.
  • outsourcing

    Service agreement between a company and an operator consisting in the transfer of the management of all telecommunications or computing needs.
  • GPRS (general packet radio service)

    Second generation mobile communication system enabling nominal speeds of up to 170 Kbits/s and effective speeds of around 50 Kbit/s.
  • CAPEX

    Capital expenditures on tangible and intangible assets excluding telecommunication licenses and excluding investments financed through finance leases.

  • organic cash flow

    Net cash provided by operating activities minus acquisitions of tangible and intangible assets (net of the change in non-current assent suppliers) plus the income from the disposal of tangible and intangible assets.

  • VPN

    Group of logically organized communications resources from the Public Switched Telephone Network that are offered by providers to clients as a private network.
  • equipment revenues (PCS segment)

    Equipment revenues include the sale of mobile handsets and accessories.
  • non-voice service revenues (PCS business segment)

    The revenues for “non-voice” services represent the revenues from the network, excluding the revenues generated by “voice” (excluding the revenues from MVNO).

  • network revenues (PCS business segment)

    Network revenues represent the revenues (voice, data and SMS) generated by the use of the mobile network (excluding MVNO). It represents the recurring income most relevant to the wireless business.

  • gateway

    Interface making communication possible between two different networks. Some gateways are two-way and some are one-way.
  • PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

    Chemical products used in certain electrical installations, particularly power generators and capacitors.
  • Gbits (or Gigabits per second)

    Billions of bits transferred per second on a transmission network.
  • next generation network (NGN)

    Networks based on a project to implement the technologies used for data transfer and the Internet to provide all the services currently based on the Public Switched Telephone Network.

  • GeSI

    Global e-Sustainable Initiative Initiative backed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the UNEP (see) grouping together telecommunication’s actors.

  • distribution frame

    Telephone network interface equipment for the grouping of local lines or loops dedicated to each subscriber in order to transfer them to the local telephone switch.
  • FTSA

    France Telecom SA.

  • internet protocol

    (IP) one of the two main communications protocols between networks (the other protocol is ATM), notably used on Internet and Intranet networks.
  • SDH

    Very high speed fiber optic transmission standard that enables the transport of packets of information at various speeds in a secure manner, while facilitating their management.
  • GRI

    Global Reporting Initiative International multi-party initiative, aiming to draw up and distribute guidelines for producing sustainable development reports.

  • SS7

    Exchange of information required for the management of a telephone call (completion and break, maintenance and supervision and billing) completed in a digital form by a distinct network to the one used for the call itself.
  • GPS

    Global Positioning System Worldwide satellite-based positioning system.
  • Global Compact

    The Global Compact represents a call launched by the UN for international business leaders to make a voluntary commitment to look into better ways of responsibly benefiting from globalization.
  • IP telephony

    Transport of voice services using IP technologies.
  • gross operating margin

    See GOM.
  • Transpac

    Standardized communications protocol enabling a link to be established between two equipments using a “packet switch” network. The Transpac network was the first public X.25 network open to the world using this technology.

  • ILO

    International Labor Organization.
  • GSM

    Global System for Mobile communication Digital standard currently used by the mobile telephone network in Europe, operating on 900 and 1,800 MHz (bi-band).

  • customer retention costs (PCS segment)

    Correspond to the sum of the acquisitions costs for the handsets sold and the commissions paid to retailers, minus the revenues from the sale of handsets, for each customer renewing his contract.

  • WDM

    Transmission technology based on multiplexing wavelengths in a fiber optic, enabling very high speed (up to 10 Gigabits per second) information transfers over long distance networks.
  • acquisition costs (PCS segment)

    The acquisition costs per customer equal the sum of the acquisition costs for the handsets sold and the commissions paid to retailers, minus the revenues from the sale of handsets, for each new customer.
  • net financial debt

    Net financial debt equals the total gross financial debt less financial elements such as cash, cash equivalents, maketable securities, active transaction derivatives.
  • data on a comparable basis

    Data with comparable methods, consolidation and exchange rates are presented for the preceding period. The purpose is to present, over comparable periods, financial data with comparable methods, scope of consolidation and exchange rates.
  • long distance network

    Public or private network covering a very large geographical scope (national or international) enabling the connection of access networks or the interconnection of private broadband networks (LAN, MAN).
  • financial investments

    Acquisitions of investment securities (net of cash acquired) and investments in associates.

  • intelligent network

    (IN) network architecture concept aimed at facilitating the introduction of new services over basic services offered by the Public Switched Telephone Network.

  • dematerialization

    It involves replacing a material asset with a less resource-hungry tool that provides the same service.
  • DNF

    Domestic Network Factories.
  • MAN

    Metropolitan Area Network. Broadband transmission networks with a limited geographical coverage, usually the size of a city or region.
  • Livebox

    Terminal sold by Orange that offers broadband modem, router and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless access point functions and provides broadband Internet connection, television and Voice over IP.
  • Mbit/s (Megabits per second)

    Millions of bits transferred per second on a transmission network.
  • ETNO

    European Telecommunication Network Operators European association of telecommunications operators.
  • EMS

    Environmental management system systematic and formalized process enabling businesses to identify and minimize the impact of their activities on the environment.

  • ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line)

    ADSL is a technology that permits high-volume data transmission across traditional telephone networks (most commonly access to the Internet) via paired copper cable.
  • Factor 4

    This concept recommends multiplying the well-being by two while dividing the use of natural resources by two.
  • dosimetry

    Evaluation or measurement of the dose of radiation absorbed by a given substance or individual.

  • LAN (Local Area Network).

    Local network enabling workstations of the same entity on the same site to be interconnected with other local networks on other sites and be linked to the public network.
  • ecodesign

    It involves factoring in the environment throughout a product’s lifecycle, as of the product design or improvement phase.
  • broadband

    transmission technology in which a single medium (wire) can carry several channels at once. Term used to
    designate high-speed networks (speeds of at least several Mbits/s).
  • HR

    Human Resources.
  • roaming

    Allows wireless customers to make and receive calls while in the coverage area of a network of which they are not
    clients, and to be billed for this service by their home network.
  • Kbit/s (or Kilobits per second)

    Thousands of bits transferred per second on a transmission network.
  • CMT

    Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones National telecommunications regulator in Spain.
  • CDMA

    Code Division Multiple Access The CDMA technology represents the foundation for the third-generation UMTS* mobile telephony standard.

  • AFOM

    French association for mobile telephone operators: France Telecom is a member of the AFOM, together with Bouygues and SFR.
  • 3G

    Third generation mobile telephony.
  • external purchases

    They include: the commercial expenses; the Service fees and inter-operator costs and other external purchases, net of capitalized goods and services produced.

  • MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator)

    Operators that do not build and operate their own mobile network, but offer their own branded services to customers using another operator’s network.
  • AUPU (PCS segment)

    The average monthly usage per user, calculated by dividing the average monthly minutes usednover the preceding twelve months (excluding the traffic of MVNO) by the weighted average number of customers over the same period.
  • MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching)

    A standard proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an international community open to operators and network designers.
  • ARPU for consumer fixed services (HCS segment)

    The average monthly revenues per line for Consumer fixed Services is calculated by dividing the average monthly revenues, on the basis of the last twelve months, by the weighted average number of lines for Consumer fixed Services over the same period.