Spirent Ensures Performance in Ethernet Mobile Backhaul

The migration to Ethernet in the mobile backhaul is an obvious decision as it helps handle the explosion of high bandwidth application traffic from 3G/4G enabled devices. However, without an emphasis on performance testing, simple functionality such as call handoff between cell sites can fail. With Spirent TestCenter, system developers and service providers have the most comprehensive solution to accurately test performance, Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) of IP/Ethernet enabled mobile backhaul networks and devices.



“Ethernet has become operator's preferred option for mobile backhaul networks going forward, yet Ethernet is evolving to support carrier grade functions required of the mobile network to carry voice, data, and video, including timing and synchronization,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics Research. “There is no question that performance testing is a key ingredient in the development and deployment of operational Ethernet backhaul networks.”



Spirent TestCenter Mobile Backhaul improves test cycle times and reduces the overall cost of testing. With Intelligent Results test engineers are alerted to system problems to easily replicate and troubleshoot issues in real-time. To help reduce the risk of dropped calls, Spirent tests the performance of SyncE and IEEE 1588 with industry’s highest accuracy. Furthermore, Spirent TestCenter the industry’s only solution to offer full support for MPLS-TP including OAM, QoS and protection functions. Spirent TestCenter reduces total cost of testing by emulating any size mobile network environment, applications and users and eliminating the need for expensive mini-networks with real network elements in the test lab.



While Ethernet in the backhaul delivers needed capacity, testing with Spirent ensures that the added capacity performs,” said Jeff Schmitz, vice president of marketing at Spirent. “This new innovation on Spirent TestCenter extends our expertise and leadership in Ethernet testing to the mobile backhaul.”