In telecommunications, the setting in place and configuring of the hardware and software required to activate a telecommunications service for a customer; in many cases the hardware and software may already be in place and provisioning entails only configuration tasks such as creating (or modifying) a customer record in a database and associating it with the service (s) and service level for which the customer has subscribed. 2. The act of acquiring telecommunications service from the submission of the requirement through the activation of service. Note 1: Provisioning includes all associated transmission, wiring, and equipment. Note 2: In NS/EP telecommunication services, "provisioning" and "initiation" are synonymous and include altering the state of an existing priority service or capability. 3. Processes that arrange and connect equipment and facilities, and create their associated software and data base translations, in response to service demands and forecasts. In this sense, provisioning does not include equipment installations, but rather the state of the equipment, i.e., in service, out of service, stand by, reserved, etc. , the state of which may also be controlled by provisioning functions. 4. The act of supplying telecommunication service to a user, including all associated transmission, wiring, and equipment. 5. The process of establishing and supplying telecommunications service to a user, including an associated transmission, wiring, and telecommunications company equipment.