The advent of virtualization, growth in IoT, preparation for 5G and the never-ending need for operators to check, measure and assure their existing networks, IT systems and services have all created a groundswell of opportunities for companies, organizations and individuals developing test, monitoring and assurance systems and services.

That much is apparent from the ever-growing number of vendors and industry bodies adding their details to Testapedia, which houses a set of searchable online databases covering the companies, products, industry organizations and people that are directly involved in defining and shaping the telecom test and measurement industry.

Only a few months after its launch, more than 650 companies and organizations -- from A10, with its passive monitoring capabilities, to ZCorum, with its TruVizion broadband diagnostics tool -- are listed in the directories, which also house details about more than 600 products (from field test tools to network probes to monitoring applications), industry ecosystems, a comprehensive glossary, a taxonomy and more.

Access to such information is becoming increasingly important as network operations and maintenance teams seek information on emerging areas, such as NFV assurance, as well as more traditional topics such as 100-Gigabit Ethernet. (See T&M Enables, Is Changed By, NFV – Report.)

And there's plenty of work to be done in developing not only the tools that can help operators test and monitor their hybrid (physical/virtual) networks, but the test plans and processes that need to be established and shared across the industry. That much became apparent during the past year or so as Light Reading set up a number of key NFV-related test programs and established The New IP Agency , which has been undertaking an ongoing set of evaluations. (See 2016 NIA-EANTC NFV Interoperability Test Report, Evaluating Nokia's VNFs: Part 2 and Validating ADVA's Virtual Switch.)

And here's the thing about Testapedia -- it's already a valuable resource (one of those sites you can get lost in for longer than you'd planned, following different trails of companies and individuals) but it gets more and more valuable with each additional entry (for which, it's worth noting, there is no charge). So if you or your company is playing a role in the test and measurement sector, I'd encourage you to get involved.

— Ray Le Maistre, , Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

CALLING ALL TEST, ASSURANCE AND MONITORING COMPANIES:
Make sure your company and services are listed free of charge at Testapedia, the comprehensive set of searchable databases covering the companies, products, industry organizations and people that are directly involved in defining and shaping the telecom test and measurement industry.