Editor’s Note: The ability to test network and device features and functions is an important piece of technology development and deployment. RCR Wireless News looks weekly at the test and measurement space to see what’s afoot.
—EXFO has acquired Aito Technologies, which provides customer experience analytics for mobile network operators.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Aito, based in Espoo, Finland, offers analytics software that “ unifies business, network, product and customer data for real-time analysis, discovery, reaction and decision support for a wide range of users and decision-makers within a wireless operator organization,” according to EXFO, which noted that “end-to-end visibility and analytics are becoming mission-critical to assure high-performance service delivery.”
EXFO said it will combine Aito’s analytics software with its products and systems, including its passive probes, to provide greater visibility of 3G and LTE network infrastructure to wireless operators.
“Aito Technologies’ software suite is already deployed at about 10 wireless operators globally, helping them obtain actionable information to better manage customer experience over their 3G and 4G/LTE networks,” said Germain Lamonde, who is EXFO’s chairman, president and CEO. “We are combining Aito’s capabilities with EXFO’s suite of instruments, systems and solutions-especially with our powerful wireless PowerHawk Pro analyzers-that will provide [mobile network operators] with contextually relevant analytics and valuable insight to improve end-user quality of experience, enhance network performance and drive operational efficiencies.”
Also this week, EXFO launched what it says is the test industry’s first defined offerings in test function virtualization for 10G and 100G. EXFO Test Function Virtualization are cloud-based test results and asset management solutions and provides “seamless enablement of test functions on any EXFO test asset, at any time,” according to the company.
The offering centers around its FTB OnDemand and FTB Anywhere solutions. FTB OnDemand creates instances of and distributes time-based licenses so that specific test functions can be performed on specific EXFO testing assets when they are needed, and lets specific items be tested without having to purchase the software license. FTB Anywhere uses “floating licenses” which enable operators to share testing software licenses across multiple platforms as needed.
EXFO expects the offerings to reduce testing costs, and increase efficiency and flexibility. FTB OnDemand, combined with EXFO’s FTB-88100NGE test module, allows configuration for 10G testing and capability for 100G.
—Rohde & Schwarz has upgraded its SMW200A to support frequencies up to 20 GHz, specifically for the needs of wireless communications and aerospace and defense testing. The instrument combines a baseband generator, RF generator and fading simulator in one box, and can be equipped with a second 20 GHz path so that two wide-band microwave signals can be generated simultaneously. Typically, R&S said, a similarly complex set-up would require at least three devices.
—Spirent Communications had the first public demonstrations of its 400G Ethernet Test System this week in the United States and China. The company said that Huawei and Xilinx have relied on the test system for more than six months to complete testing of Huawei’s NE5000E core router.
—National Instruments launched VirtualBench, which is an all-in-one instrument that integrates a mixed-signal oscilloscope, function generator, digital multimeter, programmable DC power supply and digital I/O. VirtualBench is used through software applications on Apple’s iPads or personal computers for circuit debugging and validation.
