Glossary

Mobile AP / 4/5G AP
A mobile Access Point (AP), known in legacy terms as an eNodeB, is a device that creates a wireless network to which wireless devices can connect to send and receive data. The AP is the entry point to the mobile wireless network and connects mobile devices to the mobile core. APs implement most functions in the Radio Acccess Network or RAN.

API
Application programming interface. Software applications communicate with one another via APIs.

APN
An APN is effectively a tag that identifies your enterprise, or even a site or subset of mobile devices in your enterprise. It is used at the EPC to apply policy decisions.

CBRS
Citizen broadband radio service is a 150 MHz wide broadcast band of the 3.5 GHz band (3550 MHz to 3700 MHz) in the United States

CDR
Call data record. A CDR is a record of all of the calls/IP addresses/activity that pass through a mobile wireless network, including traffic volume.

CoSP
Communication service provider. A telecom service provider that offers telecommunications services or some combination of information and media services, content, entertainment and application services over a telecom network.

Edge Point
Edge Points are the sites or nodes that allow enterprises to become virtual mobile operators to own and operate a private edge network. Edge Points represent the required software, including the EPC and eSIMs, that Alef offers enterprises to enable and provision a private network.

eNodeB
Legacy term for a mobile AP.

EPC
Evolved packet core is the framework that converges voice and data on a 4G LTE network.

eSIM
Embedded SIM is a piece of software that can be used instead of a physical SIM to establish connectivity between user equipment and the eNodeB of a mobile service provider.

ICCID
ICCID stands for Integrated Circuit Card Identifier. It is the number used by the network operator to identify the SIM card.

IMSI
IMSI stands for International Mobile Subscriber Identity. It is a unique number used to recognize the carrier being used by your mobile device.

MNO
Mobile network operator. A mobile operator/carrier that owns the cellular network infrastructure.

MSISDN
Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number is the mobile phone number, including the country code and national destination code.

PDN
Packet data network. A network such as the Internet that provides data services.

Physical SIM
A piece of hardware that can be inserted into SIM slot of a user equipment, for the purpose of connecting to a mobile service provided by a mobile service provider.

PLMN
Public land mobile network. It is also known as cellular network and is identified by a globally unique PLMN ID. It consists of the Mobile Network Code (MNC) that identifies a carrier, and the Mobile Country Code (MCC) that identifies the country where the PLMN is running.

PMNaaS
Private Mobile Network as-a-Service.

QoS
Quality of Service.

RAN
Radio access network. RAN is the wireless part of a mobile network that connects end-user devices, like smartphones, to a data network. It is implemented by one or more APs.

SAS
An automated frequency coordinator that manages spectrum sharing on a dynamic, as-needed basis across the different tiers of users that use the CBRS spectrum.

SDN
Software-defined networking.

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module.

Subscriber
An individual enterprise user or device that uses a physical SIM or an eSIM in the user equipment/mobile device.

TAC
Tracking Area Code that identifies an area within a PLMN.

UE (User Equipment)
Legacy term for a mobile device.