The view from the center: TTC offers software platform for centralized testing

Telecommunications Techniques Corp. announced last week that it has developed an object-oriented software platform that facilitates centralized testing from a carrier's network operations center.

TTC's network test manager is a client/server software system that runs on a centralized server and provides an interface between test products in the field and the people testing and monitoring the network (see figure).

"It's designed to be the common interface to TTC and non-TTC test heads," said Alan Meyers, product marketing manager for TTC's newly formed systems and software division. The network test manager marks the first product produced by the unit, Meyers said.

"The division was created to actively market software solutions to operators that require a truly complete solution for remote and centralized testing applications," he said. "We've been doing centralized testing for six or seven years, but not with a powerful software application."

The vendor is currently conducting beta tests of the system with three network operators: one wireless, one interexchange and one competitive local exchange carrier. Those trials will continue for another 60 days, Meyers said.

One analyst noted that with different types of carriers rapidly becoming multiple service providers, an integrated test system that is not limited to testing one type of network is practical.

"This system incorporates wireless and wireline, whereas others may only look at wireless or only look at broadband over [asynchronous transfer mode] or frame relay," said Chris Landes, wireless communications consultant at TeleChoice. "This is one place to conduct tests for your entire infrastructure."

Higher demands for quality of service and cost reduction have driven the proliferation of NOCs that serve as control headquarters for monitoring and directing all network functions, Meyers said. The ultimate goal for carriers is to keep customers happy and prevent churn while cutting down on the resources and costs required to meet those demands.

"The idea here is that the field technician no longer has to find and fix the problem," Meyers said.

"That saves a lot of money for service providers on the dispatch side-particularly after hours," he said.

The test manager software runs on Sun Microsystems' Ultra 1 server, which Meyers said is already used by 80% to 90% of operators for supporting network and performance management software.