Triple-Play Service Deployment

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Chapter 2: Triple-Play Service Delivery over Ethernet Networks
Tools for Turning Up and Maintaining Carrier-Grade Networks
Combining a range of instruments, systems, and software into an
integrated test suite is the recommended, proactive approach for
turning up and maintaining carrier-grade networks. An integrated
test suite offers problem-solving capabilities that can generate
consistent and repeatable processes for turning up new services
in the field. Not only does it facilitate problem detection and
expedite fault isolation for the maintenance of service integrity,
but an integrated test suite also greatly reduces operations costs.
The requirements outlined below are key in ensuring that the
Ethernet aggregation network will facilitate successful, economical
delivery of triple-play services.
Portable solutions
QoS verification begins during service installation and commissioning.
Providers must certify, from the moment service is
turned up, that the network meets the parameters agreed upon in
the service level agreement (SLA). Test sets that can run the full
range of tests save both time and money. Not only can the
provider dispatch a single technician to perform the task, but the
technician will not require in-depth training to operate the test
set. Additionally, when a single test set can perform tests from the
physical layer through the data and network layers, the solution
brings even more cost savings because technicians to not need to
carry multiple instruments to perform their jobs.