Network testing and security firm Ixia has announced that its IxLoad NFV testing technology is now available to mobile operators on a virtualised system.
The tech works by emulating the data patterns of mobile users and virtualised network functions (VNFs), helping operators plan and develop deployments of NFV by allowing them to see how they’d perform on mobile devices.
By mirroring real-time user behaviour, operators can asses how a service would perform on a high-traffic network and use the results to asses quality of service (QoS) and assign parameters for voice, video and data applications.
In doing so, operators can accelerate the introduction NFV within networks and introduce new services with “proven quality and performance”, Ixia says.
According to Heavy Reading analyst Gabriel Brown, operators need the tools to accurately model, trouble-shoot, and test the behaviour of virtualised network functions across the life-cycle of a service or deployment.
He said: “The availability and maturity of these tools is critical to the broad adoption of NFV.”
Joe Zeto, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Ixia, added: “Virtualisation won’t happen with the flip of a switch, it’s a major challenge for operators. Blended networks, consisting of both physical and virtual components, will exist for some time to come.
“In displacing vital network functions — putting user satisfaction at risk — the practical steps and impact must be fully understood each step of the way. A mix of physical and virtual assessment capabilities are required and a key ingredient to fully validate success.”
The company said its aim was to make the process of migrating to NFV simpler for operators.
Read more:
Operator’s playing “wait and see” on NFV
http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/Press-Wire/operators-playing-wait-and-see-on-nfv
BT latest to launch NFV trial with Ipanema
http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/Press-Wire/bt-latest-to-launch-nfv-trial-with-ipanema