"When I Use a Word, it Means just What I Choose it to Mean"

Telecom terminology changes from time to time. These days, a “core network” for a private 4G or 5G network requires software we formerly associated with a mobile network core, such as base station control functions, routing, synchronization, timing and so forth.

These days “voice” often refers to the interface people use to interact with their phones, smart speakers or car communication systems, rather than the older notion of voice phone calls. 

Broadband used to be defined as any data rate of 1.544 Mbps or higher. These days it is some higher number that we adjust periodically. 

“Mobility” used to refer to use of mobile phones and cellular networks. These days it often refers to ride sharing. 

“Over the top” has been used in the past to describe video entertainment, messaging or voice applications provided by third parties and accessed by users and customers over any internet connection. Today it might more properly describe any service or application accessed over a communications network that is not owned by the supplier of access services.

“When I use a word, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean” the Lewis Carroll character Humpty Dumpty says. That’s an exaggeration as applied to use of terms in telecom, but the general drift is correct.