offnetwork

Offnetwork, or off-network, is a term used across industries to describe resources, traffic, or content that operates outside a given network or operator.

In telecommunications, it commonly refers to usage on networks other than a customer’s home provider, including roaming or using partner networks. Off-network rates and policies can differ from on-network pricing, and interconnection agreements govern how traffic is exchanged between networks.

In broadcasting and streaming, off-network can describe content not produced by or distributed by the primary network; it also covers off-network syndication—when a show originally aired on a network is licensed for broadcast on independent stations, often as reruns. In streaming, off-network content may be licensed from third-party studios and hosted on external servers or delivery platforms.

In digital platforms and advertising, off-network may describe data, content, or interactions that occur outside the platform's own ecosystem, including third-party hosted content or external distribution channels. The term's exact meaning varies by industry, institution, and region.

Etymology and usage: The term is a compound of off and network, with early formal use in engineering, broadcasting, and telecommunications contexts. Its meaning has broadened as digital distribution and roaming arrangements have evolved. See also on-net, roaming, and syndication.