T&M Keeps Pace With Evolution

Nobody said that the evolution to 3G would be easy. Aside from finding a business case, there's also the challenge of understanding sophisticated new technologies. In GPRS, for example, the network monitors channel conditions to avoid sending data at a high rate only to have to retransmit garbled packets. That makes assessing quality of service (QoS) a lot more involved.

But if there's one thing that T&M vendors love, it's challenges. Tektronix, for example, is developing EDGE test procedures for AT&T Wireless. Tekelec's velOSity suite, meanwhile, now lets EDGE providers do stress tests to ensure that the network elements such as the BTS can handle an onslaught of data traffic without QoS suffering. It's aimed at providers that see a stronger business case in EDGE or haven't won a UMTS.

"There's a lot of need to support UMTS, EDGE and classic GSM testing," said Dan Bantukul, Tekelec senior product manager.

With technologies becoming more elaborate, T&M vendors also are working to streamline testing and cut its costs. Anritsu's MT8802A signal analyzer, for example, now includes an external signaling option, which allows CDMA protocol analysis with the aid of only a laptop rather than a live base station and arsenal of other test gear. Tests include CDG stage 2, authentication and encryption.

The MT8802A also allows bit-level testing, which helps ferret out problems such as wireless data that enters the phone fine but emerges garbled. That ability should prove particularly handy for providers debuting WAP because it's not uncommon to find two handset models behaving differently even when they're both from the same vendor.

Also debuting at the show:

• Number Portability Data Download service, a joint effort between Evolving Systems and Illuminet, aims to reduce LNP costs by letting providers tap Illuminet's LSMS rather than deploying their own. Users pay a flat monthly charge instead of per database dip.

• Granite Systems' Xperweb Portable Edition (below) lets field technicians use the Palm VII to access network-configuration information. A couple of pen clicks provides information such as how a particular circuit is configured and the status of work orders.

• Performance Technologies offers MicroLegend 4000 series signaling gateways, whose features include built-in SS7-protocol conversion so that providers don't have to modify their call-control applications as they add roaming agreements with providers in other countries.

• Sun Microsystems' iForce helps assemble turnkey wireless-data solutions for wireless providers and other companies. The iForce portfolio includes solutions from vendors such as Aether Systems, Nokia, Phone.com and SignalSoft.

• Tekelec's forthcoming G-Flex HLR manager acts as an intermediary between HLRs, SCPs and MSCs. When a subscriber profile is updated, the individual switches no longer also have to be updated.

• Tektronix' version 2.0 of its Net-C Monitoring System is a non-intrusive QoS tool that now includes an A interface for GSM networks.