What Does the Abbreviation Lan Stand for

Posted on 30. July 2019

We use acronyms such as 5G, IoT, WAN and SDN all the time. But what do these abbreviations actually stand for? Test your knowledge in our connectivity quiz and learn more about LAN, etc.!

With digitisation comes an increasing number of connectivity-related concepts that are often described using cryptic abbreviations. Many people use these terms, but few know what they actually stand for. The network is working. I'm online. So what does it matter?!

Yet the Bill Gates of this world are hard at work, and tech-related vocabulary is constantly expanding. It is therefore high time to update our knowledge. In our quiz, you can show how much you really know about networks!

Connectivity quiz

Become a network pro in 11 questions!

Step 1 of 11

• What does 5G actually stand for? *
  • 5th generation
  • It's a made-up term
  • 5 Gbit/second
• Correct! 5G simply stands for 5th generation. This is the latest mobile transmission standard and will be available throughout Switzerland by the end of 2019. To begin with, it will offer speeds of 2 Gbit/second (4G provides up to 1 Gbit/second), but this will rise to 10 Gbit/second in the future.
• Wrong. 5G is the successor of 4G, 3G and 2G, and simply stands for 5th generation. This is the latest mobile transmission standard and will be available throughout Switzerland by the end of 2019. To begin with, it will offer speeds of 2 Gbit/second (4G provides up to 1 Gbit/second), but this will rise to 10 Gbit/second in the future.

• What does IoT mean? *
  • IoT stands for Internet of Technology and enables us to surf the Internet on electronic devices such as mobile phones, television sets and games consoles.
  • IoT stands for Information of Things, referring to talking robots.
  • IoT stands for Internet of Things and means the networking of things that can work and communicate with each other through information and communication technologies.
• Correct! IoT stands for Internet of Things and means communication between objects. Data is gathered, evaluated and used; the scope for new business models is virtually endless. From smart watches to intelligent coffee machines to entire smart cities: IoT optimises processes and makes it possible to implement innovative business ideas.
• Not quite. IoT stands for Internet of Things and means communication between objects. Data is gathered, evaluated and used; the scope for new business models is virtually endless. From smart watches to intelligent coffee machines to entire smart cities: IoT optimises processes and makes it possible to implement innovative business ideas.

• What does SDN stand for? *
  • Secure Data Network
  • Software Defined Networking
  • Security, Data, Network – the three main pillars of digitisation
  • Security Dedicated Network
• Correct! SDN stands for software-defined networking and is an approach to the construction of network environments. Initial concepts were devised at Stanford University in 2005. SDN is considered the future of network management because it makes company networks more flexible and agile. According to the recent study 'SD-WAN in Switzerland', one-third of the companies surveyed are already using SDN or plan to carry out a related project in the next 12 months.
• Wrong. SDN stands for software-defined networking and is a way of building software-based network environments. Initial concepts were devised at Stanford University in 2005. SDN is considered the future of network management because it makes company networks more flexible and agile. According to the recent study 'SD-WAN in Switzerland', one-third of the companies surveyed are already using SDN or plan to carry out a related project in the next 12 months.

• GRA stands for … *
  • This abbreviation comes from the automotive industry and stands for the German word 'Geschwindigkeitsregelanlage', meaning cruise control. It regulates the speed set by the driver.
  • Grit for Remote Areas, i.e. a network connection for remote environments such as submarines, space stations or Antarctica.
  • Generic Ransomware Application. This comes from the IT security field and is an app that can be used to put ransomware on other devices at the touch of a button.
• Correct! We can't fool you! 😉 GRA stands for 'Geschwindigkeitsregelanlage', good old cruise control. Inventor Ralph Teetor received a patent for his speed control device in 1945 and it was first used commercially by Chrysler Imperial in 1958, under the name 'Speedostat'.
• Wrong. Ok, we admit it: this is a trick question. 🙊 GRA has nothing to do with networking. It regulates the speed of a vehicle and is known in English as cruise control. Inventor Ralph Teetor received a patent for his speed control device in 1945 and it was first used commercially by Chrysler Imperial in 1958, under the name 'Speedostat'.

• What does the abbreviation WAN stand for? *
  • Wide Autonomic Network
  • Wide Area Network
  • World Autonomic Network
  • World Area Network
• Correct. This is an easy one for network professionals, don't you think? A Wide Area Network connects national and international locations together in a single communications infrastructure. But you knew that already, of course. 😎
• Not quite. It stands for Wide Area Network. A Wide Area Network connects national and international locations together in a single communications infrastructure. If you want to create a network between different locations, you generally need a WAN.

• You now know what SDN and WAN mean. So what is SD-WAN?* *
  • SDN refers to software, SD-WAN to hardware.
  • SDN is how you build a WAN. SD-WAN is therefore a practical use case.
  • SD-WAN means the same as SDN.
• Correct! Wow, that was not an easy question. You're good! It's great that you already know so much about SDN – you're a real expert!
• Wrong These terms do not mean the same thing, and neither does one refer to hardware and the other to software. SDN is a way of creating a software-based WAN. It creates software-defined wide-area networks, known as SD-WAN.

• In Switzerland, we often use the term 'Natel' for a mobile phone. But what does Natel actually stand for? *
  • Network Application to Exchange Languages
  • National Autonomic Telephone
  • National analog telecommunications device
  • Nationales Autotelefon (national car telephone)
• Not the most obvious answer, but the right one! 🎉 In 1975, Swisscom, then known as PTT, launched a project to create a mobile telephone network for vehicles, and Switzerland's first mobile network was set up along Swiss motorways. Later, after it became a commonly used term for mobile phone all over Switzerland, Swisscom officially registered the word 'Natel'.
• Wrong. Natel stands for Nationales Autotelefon. In 1975, Swisscom, then known as PTT, launched a project to create a mobile telephone network for vehicles, and Switzerland's first mobile network was set up along Swiss motorways. Later, after it became a commonly used term for mobile phone all over Switzerland, Swisscom officially registered the word 'Natel'.

• What is LPN? *
  • LPN stands for Low Penetration Network and cannot penetrate the walls of buildings, therefore providing greater security.
  • LPN stands for Low Power Network and was created for IoT applications that rely on small quantities of data.
  • LPN stands for Local Power Network and supplies regional areas with a high-speed Internet connection.
• Correct! Low Power Network – the name speaks for itself. LPN transmissions only require a small amount of energy. The network is therefore ideal for transmitting small quantities of data from IoT sensors, etc. Swisscom is the only Swiss-wide provider of such a network, which is growing quickly thanks to cooperation with the SBB (Swiss railways), Swiss Post and NeoVac. The Swisscom LPN already covers 96.7% of the Swiss population. Possible applications include connected fire extinguishers, electricity and water meters, livestock trackers and soil quality measuring devices.
• Wrong. Low Power Network – the name speaks for itself. LPN transmissions only require a small amount of energy. The network is therefore ideal for transmitting small quantities of data from IoT sensors, etc. Possible applications include connected fire extinguishers, electricity and water meters, livestock trackers and soil quality measuring devices.

• Complete the sentence: LAN … *
  • ... is the abbreviation for Long Area Network and is used in large urban areas such as Zurich and Lucerne.
  • ... does not exist on its own, but is always combined with a 'W', i.e. WLAN, a wireless network environment, which can be anywhere.
  • ... stands for Low Access Network and is suitable for network environments with a poor signal.
  • … stands for Local Area Network and is used inside buildings, for example.
• Correct! LAN stands for Local Area Network. These are typically used in people's homes or single-location businesses. Fun fact: in the 1990s and 2000s, so-called LAN parties were extremely popular. Private computers were connected so several people could play computer games together over a network. However, this phenomenon disappeared after 2005 thanks to broadband Internet access.
• Wrong. LAN stands for Local Area Network. These are typically used in people's homes or single-location businesses. Here's a fun fact from the world of computer games: in the 1990s and 2000s, so-called LAN parties became extremely popular. Private computers were connected so people could play computer games together over a network. This phenomenon soon disappeared after 2005 thanks to broadband Internet access.

• NFV means … *
  • … Network Fibre Virtualisation, which means the use of new technologies such as WLAN, rendering network cables superfluous.
  • ... Network Function Virtualisation, where network function management is transferred from hardware to software. Routers, firewalls and networks are virtualised.
  • ... Network Function Verification, a tool for testing a network's functionality before it is put into operation.
• The right answer to a difficult question! Network functions are controlled in the software via a dashboard. NFV and SDN go hand in hand: thanks to NFV, new services can be provided much more quickly, offering greater agility and scalability. The network is more flexible, functions can be scaled more easily and network automation is supported.
• Wrong. NFV stands for Network Function Virtualisation. Network functions are controlled in the software via a dashboard. New services can therefore be provided much more quickly. The network is more flexible, functions can be scaled more easily and network automation is supported.

• Software-defined networking increases agility because … *
  • … it makes it easier to manage company networks. Hardware and software are separated and configured in isolation, increasing agility and efficiency.
  • … it supports mobile working, which is currently very popular, enabling the potential of 5G to be fully exploited.
• Correct. SDN has little to do with 5G and we made this answer up. Software-defined networking makes it easier to manage company networks. It gives you greater flexibility and saves resources, making you more agile.
• Unfortunately not. Although mobile working and 5G are on everyone's lips, they have little to do with SDN. Software-defined networking makes it easier to manage company networks. It gives you greater flexibility and saves resources, making you more agile.

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What Does the Abbreviation Lan Stand for

Source: https://www.swisscom.ch/en/magazine/2019/07/30/connectivity-quiz/

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