March 31, 2010 - Tektronix today announced at Mobile World Congress its LTE monitoring solution for Evolved Packet Core (EPC) networks based upon the Iris suite of products, which includes the GeoProbe G10, a new high-speed 10GE probe; three new analyzer applications; and a common platform that provides a single, integrated framework for current and future applications.

Tektronix Communications' LTE EPC solution provides real time, end-to-end network visibility and trouble-shooting capability for operators deploying LTE networks. With increasing customer expectations for high-quality multimedia services, and with mobile data traffic on the rise, network operators around the world are looking towards LTE as a more efficient and profitable means by which to deliver bandwidth intensive applications, such as voice over IP, streaming video, video on demand, at a lower cost and with a higher quality of service. As part of the Network Intelligence portfolio, the LTE EPC monitoring solution supports operators migrating from both the 3GPP (GSM/UMTS) and 3GPP2 (CDMA) technologies.

From the radio access network to the core, LTE networks utilize all-IP architecture for more efficient management of networks and deployment of new services. With heightened customer expectations for bandwidth intensive applications and the high cost of customer churn, network operators need to ensure that key network and service quality metrics are met, which represents a significant challenge for many operators since they will be operating their LTE networks along-side their legacy 2G/3G networks. In addition to changes made in the mobile access network (e.g., such as the Node B combined with the RNC to make single element), the LTE EPC network is made up of the MME (Mobility Management Entity), the Serving Gateway, the PDN Gateway (Packet Data Network) and the PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function). With many new and unproven network elements, interfaces and interoperability challenges in the mix, network operators will want to proactively minimize unforeseen problems and to quickly identify them before customers are impacted. 

"Tektronix Communications' LTE EPC monitoring solution provides operators with a scalable, end-to-end monitoring solution that can grow as their network expands or as new technologies or enhancements become available," said Mark Driedger, vice president and general manager of Network Management for Tektronix Communications. "In addition, our solution supports multiple 2G/3G/4G technologies and interfaces, so operators who are planning to roll-out LTE alongside their existing legacy networks will be able to leverage many of the same tools and workflows to ensure that their network and services are running smoothly and profitably."

Key to the Tektronix Communications LTE EPC monitoring solution is the GeoProbe G10 probe, a high-speed IP probe optimized to handle high-speed IP traffic. The GeoProbe G10 provides LTE operators with an affordable, high-speed probing platform that can scale with their growing data traffic needs, in addition to providing a more efficient means to reduce backhaul traffic over IT-infrastructure (WAN/LAN). The LTE EPC monitoring solution provides mobile operators with a complete tool set that collects signaling and media data from the network, correlates the data end-to-end across the network, and then provides advanced analysis tools for end-to-end network monitoring and troubleshooting.

The Iris LTE EPC monitoring solution further complements Tektronix Communications' portfolio of LTE test solutions which includes the K2Air and NSA, the only LTE protocol analysis solution available on the market supporting LTE-seamless deep-dive monitoring of wireless and wireline LTE interfaces, including Uu interface monitoring capability. With capabilities to monitor multiple UEs simultaneously per cell sector in real-time, as well as support for aggregation of multiple antenna based signals (MIMO) and the multi-technology analysis, K2Air helps to enable the efficient roll out of LTE networks and services. For more information on K2Air visit: www.tektronixcommunications.com/LTE.