Now for the hard part

This year's T&M special issue focuses on two testing areas - interoperability and optical network testing - that promise to consume carriers in the coming months

Test and measurement. Perhaps it's not the sexiest topic in the telecom world, but it's certainly one of the most necessary - and timely - given the state of today's public network. As customers demand more 9s of availability and reliability, it's imperative that service providers are sure their networks and equipment work. And we all know the way to do that is to have effective T&M practices.

First, with competition and convergence running rampant, service providers have realized that interoperability is key.Tim McElligott explores the options available to service providers in this area and why interoperability testing is becoming more crucial.

Sure, interoperability testing is done across all sectors of the industry, but the area getting the most attention is voice over IP. Forums and standards bodies are working to achieve goals, including the Multiservice Switching Forum and the Inter-national Softswitch Consortium. Moreover, players such as Level 3 Communications are running their own interoperability certification programs.

And interoperability isn't just a bugbear for service providers; vendors have to prove they can interoperate with other vendors' gear.

As we move toward the much-ballyhooed all-optical network, Hanna Hurley sheds some light on the need for optical test equipment.

Right now, service providers tend to react to problems instead of proactively testing and monitoring their optical equipment. Some service providers, such as Williams Communications, are satisfied with their current optical testing techniques, noting that the solutions work and newer solutions aren't worth the added expense at this time.

But on the other side of the fence, test tool providers say these solutions can reveal only part of the entire optical story. Therefore, several test equipment manufacturers such as Agilent Technologies, Digital Lightwave, Spirent Communications, Tektronix and Sunrise Telecom are working to expand their product lines and make optical testing more comprehensive.

That said, it is becoming clear that T&M solutions are integral to the changing and increasingly competitive telecom landscape.