0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z MPLambdaS The evolved optical version of MPLS. maintenance, repair, and operating materials (MRO) The "MR" in MRO are items that are consumed in the operation of plants and facilities. Examples include consumable machine parts, filters and oil. The "O" in MRO are materials that are consumed in non-manufacturing processes. These include everything from computers to paper and pens market value added (MVA) Market Value Added (MVA) MVA can be considered as an assessment of the net present value of all the past and projected investment projects of a company at a given point in time. MVA is sensitive to market volatility and fluctuates with market movements. EVA is strongly related to both the level and changes in the level of MVA over time. In theory, a company's MVA at a point in time is equal to the discounted present value of all the EVA it is expected to generate in the future. media gateway control (MEGACO) An IP telephony protocol that is a combination of the MGCP and IPDC protocols. It is simpler than H.323. media gateway control protocol (MGCP) IETF specification. mega- A prefix meaning one million, abbreviated M. megabits In practice, 1,048,576 bits are often called a megabit; the term is commonly interpreted to mean one million bits. Abbreviated Mb or Mbit. megabits per second (Mbps) One million bits per second. A measure of data transmission speed. merchant supplier Component suppliers that sell their products on the open market rather than use them for their own consumption. mergers and acquisitions (M&A) This is the combination of two or more entities into one, through a purchase acquisition or a pooling of interests. A consolidation differs in that an entirely new entity is created as a result of a consolidation. It has been convention to pay a premium for most acquisitions to reflect the fact that a controlling stake in a company (i.e., the ability to direct its affairs) is worth more than a mere share in the company that comes without any means of control. In an M&A transaction, synergies and cost cutting of overlapping resources are expected. mesh A term often used to describe an interconnect architecture that cross connects several devices. It is synonymous with fabric. mesh-based network A net-like communications network in which there are at least two pathways to each node. A fully-meshed network means that every node has a direct connection to every other node, which is a very elaborate and expensive architecture. Most mesh networks are partially meshed and require traversing nodes to go from each one to every other. Metcalfe's Law Named after Robert N. Metcalfe, co-inventor of Ethernet, Metcalfe's Law states that the value of a network -- defined as its utility to a population -- is V = A*N*N+B*N+C where V is the value and N is the number of users of a network. The value of a network grows with the square of the number of its users. Often, for small N, the cost of a network exceeds its value. Thus, small pilots of some networks might fail where a larger operational network might succeed wildly. metro DWDM DWDM transport systems used in regional applications with fiber spans less than 500 kilometers in distance. Systems sometimes include optical amplifiers, optical add/drop multiplexers, regenerators, and OEO switches for ring applications and protection. metro optical network An optical dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) network designed for use in metropolitan and suburban settings, as opposed to long distances between cities. metro SONET Transmission equipment (digital cross connects, add/drop multiplexers), used in regional SONET rings, that sits between long haul rings and access rings. metropolitan area network (MAN) A loosely defined term generally understood to describe a data network covering an area larger than a local area network (LAN), but less than a wide area network (WAN). A MAN typically interconnects two or more local area networks, may operate at a higher speed, may cross administrative boundaries, and may use multiple access methods. While MAN is a data term, a MAN may carry data, voice, video, image, and multimedia data. The only true MAN technology is SMDS, which, in fact, is limited to the MAN. metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) According to the U.S. Census Bureau, geographic areas that contain cities of 50,000+ population including surrounding vicinities. micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) Devices that combine electrical and mechanical elements and are embedded in semiconductor chips. In optics, MEMS technology can be used to manufacture miniature optical components, such as switches and attenuators. micro-lithography A technique for producing micron-size structures on surfaces by using short-wavelength light or electron beams. micron One millionth of a meter. micro-optic integrated components Micro-optic integrated components integrate multiple functions such as WDMs, isolators, power taps and photodiodes into single hybrid components. mid-market Refers to small to mid-sized companies, usually outside the Fortune 500. milliwatt (MW) A unit of power, equal to one one-thousandth of a watt. Mini-DIL Describes an optical component housing, specifically in a miniature, dual-inline (i.e., with two rows of pins for electrical and mechanical connection) package. minority interest A minority interest is the ownership of less than half the shares of a company. For a company that owns a majority but not all of another company, the part that is not owned - i.e. the "minority interest" held by another company, is shown on the balance sheet of the majority owner as a line item between the liability and equity accounts, and may be considered a separate equity account or a liability with an undefined life. Because the majority holder is usually required to consolidate the financial performance of a majority-owned company, a separate line item called "minority interest" appears on the income statement obtain consolidated net income on the income statement. mobile wireless equipment Infrastructure equipment to deploy mobile wireless services -- primarily for mobile phones. mobile commerce (m-commerce) The buying and selling of goods, as conducted through wireless devices like smart phones and handheld devices. mobitex Mobitex is a wireless data network that was developed by Ericsson and Swedish Telecom and first put to use in Sweden in 1986. It was later deployed in the U.S. and U.K. by RAM Mobile Data, a joint venture of RAM Broadcasting and BellSouth. In 1998, BellSouth acquired an interest in RAM Mobile Data U.S. and changed its name to BellSouth Wireless. modem (modulation and demodulation) A modem is a device that converts electronic data to audible tones that travel over ordinary telephone lines, allowing computers to connect to other computers or to computer networks. modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) This is a process used to manufacture optical fiber. A vapor phase is deposited on the inner surface of a rotating pure silicon dioxide glass tube. Once the core is completed, the chemical flow is stopped, the speed of the flame is decreased, and the tube is collapsed to form a solid perform. modulation Modulation is the addition of information to an electronic or optical signal carrier. Fanning with a blanket would be a means of modulation in smoke signal transmission, the carrier being a steady stream of smoke. Common modulation methods include amplitude modulation, in which the voltage applied to the signal is varied over time; frequency modulation, in which the frequency of the carrier signal transmitted is varied in small but meaningful amounts; and phase modulation, in which the natural flow of the alternating-current waveform is delayed temporarily. module An aggregation of several components in one package. Modules are more compact and cheaper than a collection of components due to economies that can be achieved by integration and packaging. molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) A method for growing of single crystals in which chemical reactions produce thin layers of materials with lattice structures identical to that of the substrate on which they are deposited. monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) Large gallium arsenide devices that containing both active circuit regions and interconnection elements that are bonded to ceramic substrates. Moore's law Gordon Moore, one of the co-founders of Intel Corporation, in 1965 forecasted that computer-chip complexity would double every twelve months for the next ten years. Ten years later, his forecast proved true. He then forecasted that the doubling would occur every two years for the next ten years. He has again estimated that this doubling will continue for another decade. These estimates are often combined to predict doubling every 18 months. multichannel multipoint distribution service (microwave multipoint distribution service) (MMDS) A digital wireless transmission system that works in the 2.2-2.4GHz range. It requires line of sight between transmitter and receiver, which can be 30 or more miles apart. It was designed initially as a one-way service for bringing cable TV to subscribers in remote areas or in locations that are difficult to install cable. MMDS supports approximately 33 analog channels and more than 100 digital channels of TV. In late 1998, the FCC opened up the technology for two-way transmission, enabling MMDS to provide data and Internet services to subscribers. multi-longitudinal mode fiber A laser that transmits over a narrow range of wavelengths. multi-mode fiber Optical fiber supporting the propagation of multiple frequencies (or modes) of light. Used for shorter distances and usually a larger-diameter fiber of plastic or glass. multiple system operator (MSO) A major cable TV organization that has franchises in multiple locations. multiplexer (mux) This electronic equipment allows two or more signals to pass over one communications circuit. That circuit may be a phone line, a microwave circuit, or a through-the-air signal. That circuit may be analog or digital. There are many multiplexing techniques to accommodate both. multiplexing A technique whereby multiple devices can share a communications line. multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) IETF specification. mux-demux Short for "multiplexer/demultiplexer," which combines various optical signals (each using a different wavelength) into one data stream or, conversely, separating the combined transmission back into its constituent wavelengths. MUX-VOA Short for "multiplexer-variable optical attenuator," which enables the adjustment or equalization of optical power in multiple DWDM channels before the signals are merged onto one output fiber.