Broadband Forum delivers global VDSL2 test suite

SAN JOSE, USA: Three new Technical Reports (TRs) from the Broadband Forum are set to play a major role in supporting telecom operators around the world with Very High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line 2 (VDSL2) deployments.

VDSL2 is the highest bandwidth copper-based broadband option available today, and effectively supports multimedia applications including IPTV. Deployed alone or in conjunction with local fibre deployments, VDSL2 advancements ensure greater broadband coverage and speeds throughout the world.

TR-114 provides a set of performance requirements and test methods that assure a consistent level of performance between the DSLAM in the network and the CPE -- giving providers a high confidence level when deploying VDSL2 multi-play services such as IPTV.

Complementing this work, TR-115 boosts chipset functional interoperability to create improved interworking and increased competition in the market. Addressing a different aspect of DSL service quality, TR-138 enhances the reporting accuracy for better management of VDSL2 and ADSL2+ modems.

"VDSL2 already allows service providers to deliver high bandwidth services to customers with copper access but until now these service providers have been limited both in their choice of vendor and what they can safely promise to deliver to their customers," said Broadband Forum Chief Operating Officer Robin Mersh.

"The three TRs in this test suite change all that, and I am extremely proud of what our working groups have achieved -- thanks to their tireless efforts to establish this test suite, the industry and its customers will see some significant benefits."

Essentially, TR-114 sets the performance requirements for VDSL2 (ITU-T G.993.2) modems. The test plan facilitates VDSL2 over POTS and over ISDN performance testing.

It embodies definitions of VDSL2 interoperability between one DSLAM and one CPE at a time and focuses on physical layer testing, as well as validation and verification of selected higher layer functionalities.

TR-115 establishes the test methods to verify selected transceiver functional requirements of VDSL2 modems implemented in accordance with ITU-T G.993.2, as well as physical layer OAM configuration and performance monitoring parameters as defined in ITU-T G.997.1.

Its key value is in the verification of transceiver functionalities and management parameters in order that network operators may deploy interoperable and successful VDSL2 services in their networks.

TR-138 adds a third part to the Broadband Forum's VDSL2 testing suite. It specifies accuracy requirements for VDSL2 and ADSL2/2plus management parameters. This provides service providers with the assurance that their DSL equipment accurately reports DSL modem signal characteristics.