February 1, 2010 | Ixia, the leading, global providers of converged IP network test solutions, today announced that it will demonstrate testing of  LTE nodes and networks from the wireless edge to Internet core using Ixia’s unique subscriber modeling at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from February 15-18 at Ixia’s booth (1C62). Subscriber modeling tests networks using real applications with real subscriber usage models and patterns, and is the only way to ensure that the LTE network will be able to sustain the flood of traffic to come.

The ability to model this subscriber behavior will become critical for the introduction of LTE itself, and the diverse services to be offered. LTE networks feature very high subscriber data rates, up to 150 Mbps when using 2x2 MIMO antenna technologies. This speed will engender numerous higher bandwidth applications: voice, video and data in unique combinations, requiring that network nodes handle high-bandwidth traffic with stringent jitter, latency and loss requirements. Triple-play and video-rich traffic is essential for testing node functions that enforce quality of service (QoS), such as deep packet inspection (DPI).

“In order to deploy reliable mobile networks, the industry must move away from just looking at the underpinnings of the networks to what their subscribers actually see and experience, “said Rob Bamforth, Principal Analyst at Quocirca.  “Ixia has demonstrated experience in modeling real world networks and user applications from the core of the network and has now extended it to the wireless edge. This capability will allow operators to truly evaluate their wireless networks from a subscriber’s perspective.”

            Triple-play testing of LTE networks is made possible through the integration of IxCatapult, the product line acquired by Ixia during its purchase of Catapult Communications, with IxLoad. IxLoad’s subscriber modeling emulates the mix, volume, and variability of mobile user communities.  IxCatapult’s control plane simulates establishes data plane connections, over which IxLoad subscriber modeled traffic is passed. The integrated product easily tests end-to-end performance from an emulated UE handset through the wireless and Internet cores to the voice, video and data servers on the Internet.

            “Subscriber modeled traffic through a wireless network infrastructure is an example of what we envisioned when we acquired Catapult,” said Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO of Ixia. “Combining IxCatapault and IxLoad enables a powerful and complete solution for real-world testing of both LTE network signaling and data planes from a single solution.”           

LTE introduces throughput levels beyond any wireless system today. Subscribers using LTE will have a vast array of applications to run, and they will expect the applications they use on their home broadband internet connection to work seamlessly on the LTE network. This means that the amount and variety of applications will be far more varied and complex than those used on today’s wireless networks. The ability to model this subscriber behavior will become critical for the introduction of LTE itself, and the diverse services to be offered. Simple stateless data testing will no longer be acceptable. Information concerning Ixia’s simulation tools can be found at http://www.ixiacom.com.