Calabasas, CA March 16, 2010 –Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA), a leading, global provider of converged IP performance test systems, today announced that it joined the Network Test Automation Forum (NTAF) as a founding member. The NTAF is an industry-sponsored forum consisting of service providers, network equipment manufacturers, and test equipment vendors working together to facilitate and promote the interoperability of commercial testing solutions and test infrastructure for the data communications and telecommunications industry.

Ixia’s participation in NTAF further extends and leverages the industry-wide automation achievements of the Test Lab Automation Alliance (TesLA). Ixia is a founding member of TesLA and will continue to support and participate in both forums. TesLA, with representation from 12 IP test industry companies, has made significant progress in automation standards, culminating in the recent publishing of the industry’s first test automation specifications – a milestone event in test automation.

“NTAF strengthens Ixia’s efforts in test automation standardization. Bringing together the network test automation industry in a unified forum validates the outstanding work already done with TesLA,” said Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO of Ixia. “Ixia will contribute its network testing, simulation solutions, and automation expertise to support and enable the success of NTAF.”

Today’s automation environment is characterized by multiple complementary products from different vendors, leaving users with the complex and costly job of integration. NTAF’s mission is to simplify integration challenges by defining a standardized test-product interface across multiple vendors’ devices. Using an integrated interface will allow test engineers to focus on evaluating products, instead of the development of test infrastructure.

“NTAF encourages broad participation from all parties wanting to participate in the creation and promotion of open and interoperable automation frameworks for both wireline and wireless networks,” said Keith Kidd from Verizon, Chair of TesLA Alliance Customer Advisory Board and president of NTAF. “Our goal is to provide complete transparency in our operations and ensure a level playing field for all NTAF members.”

NTAF launched with significant representation from industry leaders, including Breaking Point, BT Operate, Cisco, Empirix, Ericsson, EXFO, Fanfare, Ixia, JDSU, Spirent Communications, and Verizon.

Ixia is a leading provider of converged IP performance test systems and service verification platforms for wireless and wired infrastructures and services. Ixia’s test systems are used by network and telephony equipment manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers, service providers, governments and enterprises to validate the performance and reliability of complex networks, devices and applications. Ixia’s multiplay test systems address the growing need to test voice, video and data services and network capability under real-world conditions.

The Network Test Automation Forum brings together users, vendors, and other telecommunications and data communications industry experts for the purpose of creating interoperable testing solutions for service providers, network equipment manufacturers, and other enterprise organizations with large network deployments. 

Ixia, Test Conductor and the Ixia four-petal logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Ixia. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This material is for informational purposes only and subject to change without notice. It describes Ixia's present plans to develop and make available to its customers certain products, features and capabilities. Ixia is only obligated to provide those deliverables specifically included in a written agreement between Ixia and the customer.

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