3G Performance Testing
HSPA/HSPA+ enhancements to 3G networks worldwide are ongoing as mobile operators look to improve network capacity and data rates. The rapid adoption rate of smart devices supporting converged voice, video, and data applications are placing new burdens on wireless networks in terms of processing large volumes of data and control plane traffic, and managing different service types. Smart devices put much greater control plane processing requirements on the network compared to conventional voice-only devices. The "chatty" nature of smart devices can overwhelm an improperly provisioned network.
Support for multiplay traffic on wireless networks significantly changes testing requirements. Equipment manufacturers must thoroughly test their networking components to fully characterize their functionality and performance capabilities. Mobile operators must test their 3G networks from end to end to understand scalability, and ensure a high quality of experience (QoE) for end users. Holistic network testing, end-to-end, including all the various nodes and external networks, is the only way to predict performance. Without proper testing and capacity planning, networks can become congested or provide a poor level of service – leading to lost revenue and dissatisfied customers.
Ixia: Comprehensive End-To-End 3G Testing
Ixia provides the industry’s most comprehensive 3G wireless test portfolio. Testers can fully isolate all 3G network elements in the radio access network (NodeB, RNC), the packet core network (SGSN, GGSN), and the circuit switched network (MSC Gateway, MSC Server). Equipment manufacturers and mobile operators can rely on Ixia to cover all their wireless testing needs – from deep functional testing with both positive and negative scenarios, to high-scale capacity and performance testing. Ixia tests all 3G interconnect points with other external networks, including 2G GSM, PSTN, and emerging 4G LTE networks.Ixia's test solution supports:
- Deep functional testing of all protocol layers
- Performance testing of the control (signaling) and user data planes
- Simulation of nodeB, RNC, CN, PSTN, GPRS, GSM, and PDN nodes
- Ability to completely surround the device or system under test with the required simulated nodes
- Simultaneous testing of Iu, Iub, Iur, PSTN, GPRS, GSM, and PDN interfaces
- Automatic emulation of transport layers: ATM, AAL5, AAL2, User/Control Plane Protocols (FP, RLC/MAC)
- Complex handover scenarios
- Perceptual voice quality testing with PESQ measurements
- Mobile subscriber modeling and QoE metrics to test QoS and deep packet inspection (DPI) functions in GGSNs
Ixia tests the follow 3G/UMTS devices:
- NodeB
- RNC
- GGSN
- SGSN
- MSC Gateway, MSC Server
- AAA server
- HSS (HLR/AuC), EIR
- SMS-GMSC/SMS-IWMSC
- Security gateways
3G/LTE Wireless Core Test Configuration
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