Spirent Launches Hand-held Network And Service Quality Tester For IP Video Service Providers
Sunnyvale, CA - Spirent Communications plc, a global leader in performance analysis and service assurance solutions, recently announced the introduction of Spirent Tech-X Flex, a hand-held network and service quality tester to identify and troubleshoot IP Video services within the consumer's home. This modular unit is the industry's first solution to support testing of IP Video service quality over Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) networks. Spirent Tech-X Flex also supports current and future in-home networking technologies including Ethernet and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
With Spirent Tech-X Flex, telcos and cable TV operators can deliver the highest subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE) by verifying and troubleshooting both network and service related issues inside the customer premise. Spirent Tech-X Flex enables field technicians to easily address the complexity associated with in-home networks and roll out IP-based video services quickly and cost effectively.
"Despite the growing deployment of IPTV, in-home networks still pose a major challenge, and existing hand-held and remote diagnostic solutions only identify, validate and troubleshoot problems outside the subscriber's home," said Olga Yashkova, Industry Analyst, Measurement & Instrumentation, Frost & Sullivan. "With Spirent Tech-X Flex, field technicians can confidently validate the in-home network, thereby minimizing misdiagnosis and expensive replacement of customer premise equipment with no resolution to the problem."
Spirent Tech-X Flex is the only solution that allows technicians to conduct in-home qualification of MoCA along with 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11 networks in a single unit. Furthermore, this solution is the industry's first hand-held tester to support a dual MoCA test interface for in-home networks. With both dual MoCA and dual Ethernet interfaces, Spirent Tech-X Flex offers field technicians an in-line monitoring solution that helps them avoid issues with proprietary signaling between the set-top box and the video server.
"Spirent is an industry leader in remote diagnostics and field testing for Triple Play services and this latest introduction only serves to extend that leadership," said Sean Yarborough, Director of Marketing - Strategy, Partnership and Field Test Solutions at Spirent Communications. "We listened to our customers, both telcos and cable operators, and developed a best in class hand-held tester for in-home voice, video, and data networks including those using proprietary IP Video middleware."
Furthermore, the PC-like capabilities of Tech-X Flex allow effortless integration with back office systems, limiting the need to take the laptop out of the truck. Automated expert diagnostics accelerate the field troubleshooting process by analyzing and correlating various test results to identify faults and prioritize those with the greatest impact on service. By using this solution, service providers experience the benefits of reduced repeat rates for network installation and repair, and shorter job completion times for Triple Play network work orders.
SOURCE: Spirent Communications plc