Scotland's Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland

3G

The third generation of the mobile telephone network, capable of delivering broadband equivalent speeds to mobile telephones and smartphones, laptops and handheld/tablet computers.

4G

The fourth (and future) generation of the mobile telephone network, currently undergoing trials in the UK. 4G is likely to be capable of speeds of up to 100 megabits per second.

BBC

British Broadcasting Corporation

Broadband

High-speed internet connection typically capable of speeds ten times greater than dial-up.

Broadband Reach Project

A Scottish Government-funded delivering a basic broadband connection to premises unable to receive broadband by any other means.

BT

British Telecommunications plc.

Cloud Computing

Location-independent computing, whereby shared servers provide resources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand.

COSLA

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

DDS

Digital Design Studio

Digital Ambition

A summary of the Scottish Government's plans and ambitions for the digital economy, published 22 October 2010.

DIVA

Digital Media and ICT Vendor Alliance

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line

E-commerce

The buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks.

ESF

European Structural Funds

EU

European Union

Fibre network

A communications network using fibre optic cable that is capable of delivering very high-speed internet connections.

GBBO

Getting British Business Online

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GLOW

The Scottish Schools Intranet

GROS

General Register Office for Scotland

HIE

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

HMIe

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education

HMT

Her Majesty's Treasury

ICT

Information and Communication Technologies

IT

Information Technology

JANET

UK-wide network dedicated to education and research.

kbps

kilobits per second

LEADER

An EU-financed part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme delivering support for rural development (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale).

LTE

Long Term Evolution (see 4G)

LTS

Learning and Teaching Scotland

Mbps

Megabits per second

Micro-business

A business with fewer than ten employees.

MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament

Mobile Broadband

Internet access over a mobile phone network achieved by either plugging a small device into a computer or by connecting the computer to a suitable mobile telephone.

NAS

National Archives of Scotland

Next generation broadband

High speed broadband which exceeds the capabilities of copper-based (or similar) broadband infrastructure. Speeds will vary dependent on the technology used.

NHS

National Health Service

NHS24

A web and telephone-based health care advice service delivered by the National Health Service.

NLS

National Library of Scotland

Ofcom

Office of Communications - the UK's independent telecommunications regulator and competition authority.

PLQIM

Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix

PC

Personal Computer

PAS

Publicly Available Specification

RCAHMS

Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments

RDEH

Rural Digital Economy Hub

RSE

Royal Society of Edinburgh

SCIP

Scottish Creative Industries Partnership

SDN

Scottish Digital Network

SE

Scottish Enterprise

SG

Scottish Government

SLIC

Scottish Library and Information Council

SME

Small to Medium-sized Enterprise

SOLACE

Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

SQA

Scottish Qualification Authority

STV

Scottish Television

TDP

Telecare Development Programme

THC

Telehealthcare

TSB

Technology Strategy Board

TUC

Trades Union Congress

WiFi

Wireless Fidelity - a technology enabling home computers, smartphones and handheld/tablet computers to access the internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the internet.