Spirent Unveils IPTV TestersSpirent Unveils IPTV Testers

Spirent Communications launches Video Quality Analyzer (VQA) and GEM IP Network Impairment Emulator for IPTV

March 10, 2008

2 Min Read

CRAWLEY, U.K. -- Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announces the launch of two new products expected to accelerate the adoption of IPTV worldwide. Video Quality Analyzer (VQA) is a new, comprehensive tool allowing network equipment manufacturers and service providers to assess more than one hundred metrics related to delivering high quality IPTV. Spirent will be demonstrating its IPTV solutions on stand number 177 at IPTV World Forum in London, UK between the 12th and 14th March 2008.

The second launch is the TIA-921A feature on Spirent GEM – the industry’s leading hardware-based Ethernet Network Impairment Emulator from Anue Systems. The release allows for the emulation of ‘real world’ IPTV focused network impairments based on the American National Standards Institute /Telecommunications Industry Association ANSI/TIA-921A Standard and International Telecommunications Union ITU-T G.1050-2007 Recommendation.

Spirent VQA allows service providers and network equipment manufacturers to measure video quality and related metrics, while Spirent GEM allows users to emulate the ‘real-world network,’ complete with its ‘glitches,’ so that technology and delivery issues can be ironed out before IPTV services are rolled-out to consumers. This is crucial as it’s widely accepted that for IPTV to be successful, video quality must be as good, if not better, than as provided with existing TV delivery methods such as roof top aerial, satellite or cable. This need is particularly important in order for IPTV to gain a foothold in the lucrative market for high definition TV services.

Jack Douglass, director of video technology at Spirent Communications, explains: “IPTV is particularly complex to deliver and even small amounts of content or network impairments can significantly impact the end user experience. For instance 0.5% packet loss doesn’t sound like much but in the context of IPTV it’s enough to seriously degrade picture quality. Spirent has the experience, equipment and professional services that are needed to overcome the technically complex challenges of delivering high quality IPTV services. The launch of Spirent’s VQA and the TIA-921A feature on GEM help provide network equipment manufacturers and service providers with essential test tools that they need to monitor, analyze and troubleshoot IPTV problems under ‘real-world’ conditions prior to deployment.”

Spirent Communications plc

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