Glossary - P

P

Packet Switched

A form of data transmission in which data is broken into small packets that are transmitted independently and reassembled at the destination. This is in contrast with circuit-switching, traditionally used for voice telephony, in which the transmission occurs over a dedicated circuit.

Pager Notification

Pager Notification is a supplemental service to Answer Call and Voice Mail that allows the customer to be notified via a pager that a new message has been deposited in their mailbox. Business customers have two options: all messages, or only Urgent messages activate the Pager Notification.

Partial Conversion

This situation occurs when a Verizon end user elects to use a CLEC or Reseller billing service for some, but not all of the lines on his/her account.

PBX Trunk Lines

PBX Trunk Lines give callers the ability to dial directly to the desk of anyone in your company, without having to go through a receptionist or enter an extension number. Your employees can also have the ability to make direct outbound calls. The PBX Trunk lines are connected through Verizon's central office equipment to your PBX (Private Branch Exchange) equipment. Learn more.

Personal Communications Services (PCS)

A new generation of wireless-phone technology that introduces a range of features and services surpassing those available in analog- and digital-cellular phone systems. PCS provides the user with an all-in-one wireless phone, paging, messaging, and data service.

PIC

See Primary Interexchange Carrier.

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

The basic single line switched access service offered by local exchange carriers to residential and business end users, using loop-start signaling.

Point Code

Signaling System 7 address of a network element, used to identify the signaling point in SS7 messages. Consists of a network and cluster identifier and a member number.

Point of Interface or Point of Interconnection (POI)

Demarcation point between the local exchange carrier and a wireless service provider, which establishes the points for testing and the technical interface. It also establishes where each carrier has responsibility.

Point of Interconnection or Point of Interface (POI)

Demarcation point between the local exchange carrier and a wireless service provider, which establishes the points for testing and the technical interface. It also establishes where each carrier has responsibility.

Point of Presence (POP)

The physical place within a LATA where a long distance carrier or a cellular provider interfaces with the network of the local exchanger carrier.

Point of Termination (POT)

The point of demarcation at which Verizon's responsibility for the provision of service ends.

POP

See Point of Presence.

Port

1. The physical or electrical interface through which a device gains access to a network or computer.
2. Network access point for data entry or exit.

Port A Line Card

The Port A line card (or equivalent) and associated peripheral equipment are found on an end office switch, which serves as the Interconnection between individual loops or individual customer trunks and the switching components of an end office switch and the associated switching functionality in that end office switch. Each port is typically associated with one (or more) telephone number(s), which serve as the customer's network address. The port element is part of the unbundled local switching element.

Portable NXX

An NXX from which at least one number has ported or there is a pending order to port a telephone number.

Ported In

A telephone number is considered to be ported in when service provider A provides service in their switch with a telephone number assigned to service provider B's switch using local routing number (LRN) technology.

Ported Out

A telephone number is considered to be ported out when a number assigned to service provider A is moved from service provider A's switch to service provider B's switch, using local routing number (LRN) technology.

POTS

See Plain Old Telephone Service.

Power Influence (PI)

The power of a longitudinal signal induced in a metallic OSP facility by an electromagnetic field emanating from a conductor or conductors of a power system. PI is also called longitudinal noise or noise-to-ground.

Pre-designated IntraLATA Carrier (LPIC)

The telephone company chosen by the end user as being the default carrier for calls outside the local calling area but within the same LATA. These calls are often referred to as regional calls. An LPIC is similar in nature to a Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC), the difference being that the PIC carries call traffic across LATA boundaries.

Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC)

The long distance company to which traffic is automatically routed when an end user dials 1+ a telephone number.

Primary Rate ISDN (PRI)

PRI is a 4-wire 1.544 megabits per second (DS1) local switching system port that uses the B8ZS line code and the ESF framing format. PRI is available in a twenty-three B channel plus one D channel (23B + D) configuration or a twenty-four B channel (24B) configuration.

Priority Call

Priority Call allows the customer to identify up to six, pre-specified calling numbers within their local calling area by a special ringing code. This feature provides screening, management and security. The customer can change the priority list.

Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

A private telephone switching system commonly located on the end user premises with an attendant console. The PBX is connected to a common group of lines from one or more central offices to provide service to a number of individual phone.

Private Line

A communications service between specific locations that involves dedicated circuits, private switching arrangements, and/or predefined transmission paths, whether virtual or physical.

Protocol Address

Numeric character string used to specify the location of the called customer. Also known as network address.

Protocol Code

A component of an interface code that is readily associated with the basic electrical function of the interface.

Provisioning

The activities required for a telephone company to supply telecommunications service or unbundled network elements.

Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)

An answering location for 9-1-1 calls originating in a given area. A PSAP may be designated Primary or Secondary, which refers to the order in which calls are directed for answering. Primary PSAPs respond first; Secondary PSAPs receive calls on a transfer basis only, and generally serve as a centralized answering location for a particular type of emergency call. PSAPs are staffed by employees of Emergency Response Agencies (ERAs) such as police, fire or emergency medical agencies or by employees of a common bureau serving a group of such entities.

Public Service Commission (PSC)

State regulatory agencies for utilities (including telecommunications); various state agencies have names such as Public Service Commission, Public Utility Commission, Board of Public Utilities, Public Service Board, Dept. of Telecommunications and Energy.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

1. The worldwide voice telephone network.
2. Any common carrier network that provides circuit switching among public users.

Back to Top