Virgin Media

Additional outlet

An extra set-top box, so you can watch digital TV in different rooms

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

ADSL transforms the existing copper wires between the telephone exchange and a telephone socket into a high-speed digital line for broadband and even TV

ADSL2+

This is a new form of ADSL that offers even faster speeds of data transfer over copper wires

Analogue TV

The broadcast signal which delivers BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Five to your TV via a traditional aerial

ARPU

Stands for average revenue per user. It refers to the average monthly spend per customer

Audio description

Services which carry an additional audio stream providing narration for visually impaired viewers

Backbone

One of the main trunk routes of a network

Bandwidth

A way of measuring the speed of data transmission. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps). The higher the capacity of a connection, the more bandwidth it offers

Blog (web log)

An online diary used by an individual or organisation to share information at regular intervals

Bluetooth

Bluetooth provides a wire-free way to connect and exchange information between devices in close proximity such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras and video game consoles

Bps (bits per second)

A measurement of speed at which data is transferred

Broadband

An always-on, high speed internet connection

Byte

A measurement of computer storage space. There are 1024 bytes in one kilobyte (1KB), 1024 KB in a megabyte (MB) and 1024 MB in a gigabyte (GB)

Cabinet

The green or grey coloured metal cabinets on street pavements, containing cable equipment. Also known as street furniture

Cable modem

A device installed in the customer's home which gives access to broadband internet from a PC or laptop

Capital Expenditure

The money we spend on physical assets - our network, buildings, IT infrastructure, etc

Churn

Customers leaving Virgin Media, either through choice, by moving out of franchise area or because we have disconnected them for non-payment of services

Combo

Two services

Conditional access (CA)

Term used to describe the method of blocking access to programming, access only being allowed with the correct code or card to "unlock" the programming

Customer advocacy

The number of customers who say they would recommend us to their friends and family

DAB (Digital audio broadcasting)

Provides a wide range of new stations including kids' programmes, comedy, plays, classical, pop, reggae and rock music in addition to local commercial and BBC stations

D-CAB

Industry term for digital cable

DECT (digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications)

A technology used to link cordless handsets to a wired telephone system

Dial-up

A connection to the internet which uses a telephone line and dial-up modem. The maximum speed available is 56Kbps

Digital TV (DTV)

Sound and pictures are converted into 'bits' of information (a digital signal) and sent through either an aerial, satellite dish, phone line or cable, making the picture sharper. This digital signal is then turned back into sounds and pictures by a digital set-top box

D-SAT

Industry term for digital satellite

DTT

Industry term for digital terrestrial television, also known as Freeview

DVB

Digital Video Broadcasting, a European standard for digital television technology

DVD

Digital Versatile Disk - digital storage device commonly used for film/video

DVR

Digital video recorder. See personal video recorder (PVR)

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. This is a key measure of profitability used by analysts, investors and large companies. It is calculated by looking at earnings (or profits) before the deduction of interest expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation

EBITDA synergies

Refers to our ability to make cost savings in the business. This measure includes synergies but not cost of implementation

EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service)

Send and receive simple melodies, images, sounds, animations, and formatted text on a mobile

EPG (Electronic Programme Guide)

On screen programme guide that tells you what's on, available with digital TV

Ethernet

A common method of networking computers in a LAN (local area network). An 'Ethernet' describes the physical network that carries data traffic

Fibre optic cable

High speed cable, able to handle millions of pieces of information at one time

Firewall

A security system that prevents unauthorised access to your PC from other internet users. All data passing through a firewall is inspected, then blocked or allowed to pass according to predetermined security criteria

Franchise area

An area of the country where we offer cable services

Gigabyte (GB)

A unit of storage capacity. There are 1,024 megabytes in one GB

Harddrive

Sits inside a computer or personal video recorder and can store TV programmes or movies

HDMI

High-Definition Multimedia Interface is an all-digital audio/video interface capable of transmitting uncompressed streams. HDMI also incorporates Digital Rights Management technology. HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio/video source, such as a set top box, a DVD player, a PC or a video game system and a compatible TV

HD-ready

The ability for a TV to display high-definition pictures

HDTV (high definition television)

Has up to five times as many lines on screen as standard TV broadcasts, meaning a clearer picture and stunning detail on large screen TVs

IdTV

Integrated digital television. A television with a built in digital tuner

IP (Internet protocol)

Internet protocol is a standardised method of transporting information across the internet in packets of data

IP address

A unique number used to identify servers or users connected to the internet

Internet service provider (ISP)

A company providing access to the internet

Interactive TV

Services enabling viewers to interact with the television programme simply by pressing the red button on their remote control - you can play quizzes, watch highlights, catch up on showbiz gossip and find out information about a particular programme

Kilobyte (KB)

A unit of storage capacity, there are 1024 bytes in a KB

MATV

Master antennae TV. A communal aerial system that uses a master aerial to receive the signal before it is distributed

Megabyte (MB)

A unit of storage capacity, there are 1024 kilobytes in a MB

Mbps (megabits per second)

A measurement of speed when referring to data transfer or bandwidth

MMS (Multimedia messaging service)

Sends and receives images, video clips and sounds as attachments to messages on mobiles

MP3

A type of digital music file format

Net additions

The number of customers added to our subscriber base after factoring in new sales and churn

Number porting

The process of taking your existing mobile or landline phone number with you when you switch to a new service provider

Operating cash flow

Operating cash flow

Overall fault rate

A measure of the total number of faults logged divided by the sum of the total number of customers that take each of our current four main products - digital TV, telephony, broadband and analogue TV

PCA30

The percentage of calls answered within 30 seconds in a contact centre. It is the metric we use to measure the speed in which we answer customer calls, which we know is important for customer satisfaction

PVR (personal video recorder)

A digital set top box with a hard drive, just like a computer, so you can record, play, fast-forward and rewind TV programmes. Also known as a DVR (digital video recorder)

Platform

Term for the method of delivery or reception of digital television (e.g. cable, satellite)

Quad play

Phone, TV, broadband and mobile

RGU

Stands for revenue generating unit. A RGU is either a TV customer, a telephone customer or a broadband customer. So a "triple play" customer is three RGUs

Search engine

A website that allows you to search the internet for a specific word, phrase or topic

Server

A host computer on a network that stores information, such as websites, and responds to requests for information

Solus

A service taken on its own

SIM (subscriber identification module)

A small, removable plastic card embedded with a metal-coated microprocessor chip. The SIM card chip securely stores user information, and provides authentication and connection to mobile networks

Simple cash flow

EBITDA minus capital expenditure and minus all implementation costs incurred to capture the synergies

Spam

The slang term used to describe unwanted advertising sent through email

SMS (short message service)

A service that allows you to send and receive short text messages on a mobile phone or landline

STB

Set top box. A device that connects to a television and turns the signal into content then displayed on the screen

Streaming

When you watch or listen to a multimedia file as it's downloading, it means you don't have to fully download and save the file before hand

Switchover (digital switchover)

The process of migrating television equipment from analogue reception to digital reception, in preparation to switch off the analogue signal

Surfing

Term used to describe browsing the internet

Terrestrial

Television services received through an aerial

Triple play

Phone, TV and broadband

TVOD

TV on demand. A library of hundreds of films and TV programmes available to watch whenever you want. You can also pause, fast forward and rewind just like watching a DVD. Also known as video on demand (VOD)

VOD

Video on demand. See TV on demand

VoIP

Voice over IP. Uses internet protocol as a method of carrying voice calls over the web

Wi-fi

Term used to describe a set of standards for devices connecting wirelessly to a local area network using wireless technology