EANTC Leverages Spirent to Test Cisco Mobile Network Solutions

The rapid growth in the use of smartphones, tablets, and Internet Protocol (IP)-based video/voice applications over 3G and long term evolution (LTE) networks is not only pushing the limits of mobile networks but has also increased the performance requirements for the wired network as traffic is aggregated through the mobile backhaul.



“As mobile operators transition their wireless networks to support the demands of mobile packet voice and broadband data applications, they are looking for a proven test solution that provides them with an end-to-end view of their network’s performance,” said Carsten Rossenhövel, Managing Director, EANTC AG. “Spirent supported our test extensively to validate Cisco’s capabilities in the mobile backhaul and mobile core.”



Spirent was early to recognize that testing sections of the network in isolation is no longer enough. Rather, service providers and their vendors require a single test environment that can determine throughput and latency in the IP core, ensure that the Ethernet’s clock timing matches TDM in the mobile backhaul, and validate interworking between internal and external networks through the mobile core.



“This test clearly shows that Spirent is the preferred choice for large scale, complex tests when assessing holistic network performance,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Networks & Applications group at Spirent. “Helping vendors validate solutions for Any-G wireless technologies with Spirent test equipment means operators are better able to rollout reliable networks and services to their customers.”



Specifically designed to understand and evaluate the capacity, connectivity and performance requirement and concerns of mobile operators, the EANTC test showcased how mobile providers as well as infrastructure vendors depend on Spirent to test performance, scalability and reliability across the entire network from the IP core and mobile backhaul to mobile core.

Cisco is the world’s leading provider of networking technology and for this test EANTC verified the performance, intelligence and reliability of Cisco’s comprehensive mobile Internet network architecture. The test bed included the Cisco® CRS-3 Carrier Routing System, Cisco ASR 5000 Aggregation Services Routers mobile multimedia core, Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, Cisco MWR 2941-DC Mobile Wireless Router, Cisco 7609 Router and other key network components.



The tests included validating the mobile backhaul’s ability to handle edge connections of E1 traffic being aggregated through the 100 Gbps backbone links and the network core’s ability to scale to support the increases in users and data requirements.