EXFO Intros Handheld for Backhaul and Commercial Services

EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering announced a test set, the AXS-200/855, that allows technicians to transition from E1/DS1, DS3 or PRI circuit testing to comprehensive Ethernet/IP performance testing without swapping modules or test units.

Service providers worldwide are facing increased demand for higher-speed data services from both their business and wireless customers. While these service offerings are often deployed over next-generation Ethernet/IP networks, many existing services, including mobile backhaul and commercial voice/data services, are run over DS1/DS3, E1 and fractional E1/T1, and ISDN-based circuits. As with the transition to 3G and 4G in wireless networks, these technologies will be converted over time to 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps Ethernet standards, but they continue to provide substantial value today in supporting relevant, revenue-generating services.

The challenge for operators today is to ensure these traditional services, along with next-generation Ethernet/IP services, can be tested seamlessly and efficiently by the same technician, using a single instrument to maximize service rollouts.

Housed in the AXS-200 SharpTESTER platform, the AXS-200/855 provides field technicians with multiservice testing in a lightweight, rugged, handheld unit optimized for rapid, simple testing. The AXS-200/855 offers field technicians a single unit to perform comprehensive dual DSn/PDH and ISDN PRI testing, including real-time insertion of voice traffic and one-time setup of tests to be run across all ISDN channels simultaneously, as well as turnkey Ethernet testing, including RFC 2544, multistream traffic generation and monitoring, BERT and IP connectivity tools. Switching from one test set to the other is a simple point-and-click process using the intuitive GUI; the user no longer needs to carry multiple modules, boot up several units, or install software upgrades.