|
CALL US: +65 6773 9135
|
Testing times ahead
As the roll-out of next generation networks gets under way, the need to be able verify that the performance of the equipment deployed will obviously be a crucial aspect that needs to be addressed. Murray Coleman, European Marketing Manager for IP/Wireline business at Anritsu, is heading up his company’s involvement in 21CN, as well as other NGN projects that are underway elsewhere in Europe. A major part of the company’s role, according to Coleman, will be in the integration and verification testing of all the different component parts that make up the network, and ensuring that all of these work together in a seamless manner. AS he points out, “BT is looking to put more of the impetus onto the vendors to do the testing, rather than taking care of all this itself. This is a radical departure from its attitude in the past, but with the large number of partners involved, this is the only sensible way to proceed.” “This means that the companies that it has chosen to work with on this project now have to take on a lot of the responsibility” he continues “and so they need the support of firms like Anritsu.”
Anritsu is now working with several of the companies that BT has chosen to help in the roll-out of 21CN. These names include the likes of Ericsson, Fujitsu, and Siemens. It is also helping the manufacturers of the electronic devices that will be used by these partners. Bookham Technology, Core Optics, and Fujikura are among the client list that the firm is currently engaged with in this capacity.
It is not just a technological problem, it is an economical one as well” Coleman points out “the investment, both in terms of capex and opex is enormous, and the pressure that will be put on BT’s partners will clearly reflect this.” “Other European operators are perhaps being a little more cautious about how quickly they embrace NGN. All of them will be looking at how BT fares with 21CN over the coming months” he concludes.