Here you will find explanations and definitions of important terminology.

TNIB

TNIB means "Trusted Network Internet Business".

Average (accounting method)
The data transfer is ascertained every 5 minutes, and this serves to work out the average data transfer (in Mbit/s) at the end of the month. Only the higher value of incoming and outgoing data transfers is used.

95th percentile (accounting method)
Every 5 minutes the bandwidth used is measured and the highest value ascertained. At the end of the month, all the so-called peak values are used. The 5 highest ones are deleted and the remaining highest value (in Mbit/s) is billed.

Flatrate (accounting method)
Flatrate accounting involves only fixed expenses that you can compute easily. This gives you a good overview of your expenses.

Per gigabyte (accounting method)
With this accounting method, every started gigabyte is billed. This method is very exact and includes sent and received data transfers.

Backbone
The backbone refers to the main cable /path of a network. It connects an Internet service provider’s PoPs together. Star- and ring-shaped backbones are very common.

DE-CIX
The abbreviation “DE” stands for Germany, “ CIX“ for "Commercial Internet Exchange." At first, the major network operators in North America joined together to implement a commercially exploitable Internet backbone. The name “CIX” was used to perform the exchange of data between their Internet networks. The German version was created in 1975 in Frankfurt to shorten data transfers within Germany. All German providers – except Telekom – joined together to form the so-called eco (Electronic Commerce Forum). The forum operates the DE-CIX in Frankfurt for its over 60 member companies.

Peering
Term for the connecting of two partial networks on the Internet without mutual charging of the network operators amongst themselves. The basis is the assumption that the traffic streams from one network to the other are about even. The peering point refers to the geographical location where the network switch-over takes place. The legal modalities of the peering are contained in a peering agreement. This includes, for example, the estimated traffic volume, the cost allotment for the setting up and maintenance of the peering point and the procedure in the event of technical defects.