Bandwidth: Represents the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). This kind of bandwidth is usually expressed in bits of data per second (bps).
Broadband: Telecommunication, in which a wide band of frequencies is available to transmit information, allowing more information to be transmitted in a given amount of time (much as more lanes on a highway allow more cars to travel on it at the same time).
Cable Modem: Is a device that enables you to hook up your PC to a local cable TV line and receive data at rates between 368Kbps and 6Mbps, depending on your service.
Download: The act of transferring data to a more nearby computer or device from a more distant computer or device.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): A technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines at rates between 128Kbps and 6Mbps.
Ethernet: Is a widely-installed local area network (LAN) technology, usually called 10BASE-T, which provides for data transmission speeds of up to 10Mbps.
Fast Ethernet: 100BASE-T LAN technology that provides for data transmission speeds of up to 100Mbps.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): Technology used for delivering internet over normal copper telephone lines, usually at a rate of up to 128Kbps.
Kbps: Refers to a data transfer rate in terms of Kilobits (1000 bits) per second.
LAN: A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link.
Mbps: Refers to a data transfer rate in terms of Megabits (1000000 bits) per second.
Network: Is a series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths.
Packet: A packet is the unit of data that is routed between an origin and a destination on the Internet or any other packet-switched network.
Router: A router is a device or, in some cases, software in a computer, that determines the next network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its destination.
Satellite: A specialized wireless receiver/transmitter that is launched by a rocket and placed in orbit around the earth.
Upload: The act of transferring data from a nearby computer or device to a more distant computer or device.
WAN: A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically dispersed telecommunications network.
Wireless: Telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or the entire communication path.