Spirent Offers Metro Edge Tester

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Spirent Communications' new SmartBits Broadband Remote Test Unit (BRTU) unveiled today will help service providers better test their metro optical networks and the high-speed data services they provide to enterprise customers.

A rack-mounted and compact test unit, the SmartBits BRTU supports the next generation of add drop multiplexers and multi-service provisioning platform devices offered by such companies as Ciena, Lucent and Nortel and now being deployed by service providers in their metro networks.

"Service providers continue to make significant investments in their metro networks to support the growing demand from their largest business and government customers for high-speed data services," said David Rennyson, vice president of marketing for Spirent Communications. "The SmartBits BRTU allows service providers to test a range of data services to identify and fix any performance issues quickly, ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction levels."

Spirent's SmartBits BRTU enables service providers to verify network performance at the physical and logical layers and correlate events across the layers -- all from a single connection. For example, Spirent's new unit can test a range of services from traditional private lines to high-speed DS-3 and OC-3 connections as well as frame relay and ATM networking applications. In addition, service providers using SmartBits BRTU won't have to purchase new testing hardware when they begin introducing OC-48 and other new services. The SmartBits BRTU can easily be loaded with new software to accommodate emerging technologies.

Spirent Communications