Spirent Announces Full Suite of Integrated O-RAN Solutions to Simplify End-to-End O-RAN Testing and Validation

Rhea-AI Summary

Spirent Communications has expanded its portfolio with the release of end-to-end, O-DU, and RIC testing, completing its O-RAN testing solutions. This enhances the company’s offerings, ensuring robust multi-vendor interoperability and performance testing, crucial for the adoption of Open RAN technologies. Spirent's solutions include comprehensive test libraries and automated testing methodologies, aiming to simplify the complex testing requirements of 5G networks. Noteworthy clients, like Mavenir, praise Spirent for their real-time emulation capabilities, vital for pre-deployment success. This development positions Spirent favorably in the growing 5G market.

Positive

• Launch of end-to-end O-DU and RIC testing enhances O-RAN portfolio.
• Provides comprehensive multi-vendor interoperability and advanced performance testing.
• Features automation with pre-built test libraries and open APIs.
• Single user interface simplifies various testing approaches.
• Positive client feedback from Mavenir highlights the effectiveness of Spirent's testing solutions.

Negative

• None.

Most complete portfolio for O-RAN performance and multi-vendor interoperability testing

FREDERICK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of test and assurance solutions for next-generation devices and networks, today announced its release of end-to-end, O-DU, and RIC testing, completing its O-RAN test solution portfolio. Building upon its previously available O-CU and O-RU test solutions, Spirent now offers the most robust and realistic O-RAN testing, a move that will help accelerate widespread O-RAN adoption. Spirent’s comprehensive testing approach and 5G ecosystem expertise will ensure O-RAN functionality, interoperability, and field-ready performance.

“O-RAN has great potential to introduce new use cases and innovation while lowering costs, but only if its performance and business model deliver as promised,” says James Kimery, VP of product management for Spirent’s Lifecycle Service Assurance business. “With all the opportunity O-RAN has unlocked, it’s made testing more complex than traditional RAN approaches and placed a greater testing burden downstream to carriers and network operators who must integrate various vendor systems.

“That’s why we’ve focused on offering a simplified and automated approach with fully integrated solutions, pre-built test cases, and centralized control via one user interface, regardless of the type of test performed,” explains Kimery. “Additionally, our O-RAN solutions cover today’s established industry standard testing and push beyond to ensure the requirements for superior carrier-grade, production-ready criteria are met to ensure deployment success.”

Spirent’s unique O-RAN portfolio provides the following:

• Comprehensive multi-vendor interoperability and advanced performance testing using real-time emulation - Spirent offers the most thorough, reliable, and realistic testing using comprehensive test portfolios and real-time (bi-directional) emulation, which most accurately reflects a live, real-world O‑RAN environment.
• Automation - Spirent’s O-RAN solutions provide pre-built test libraries across performance, resiliency, security, compliance, and more with a fully integrated system with open APIs. Additionally, the solution is designed to plug-and-play seamlessly into any automation pipeline.
• Single User Experience - O-RAN testing requires a variety of testing and emulation approaches, which Spirent has integrated into the industry’s only system managed through a single user experience, regardless of the testing type being executed.

“The complexity of Open RAN and 5G require new automated testing methodologies that validate real-world performance and robustness,” said Caroline Gabriel, research director at Analysys Mason. “Spirent’s O-RAN portfolio provides comprehensive, integrated solutions that are specifically designed and tailored for functional and performance testing of the multi-vendor RAN.”

As a well-established Spirent customer, Mavenir was an early purchaser of Spirent’s O-RAN solutions. “Spirent is a key contributor to Mavenir’s success in validating our Open RAN components are market-ready,” said John Baker, SVP of business development at Mavenir. “Spirent provides the real-time and real-world emulation capabilities we require to feel confident pre-deployment and we look forward to continued collaboration for successful future rollouts.”

“Emulation comes to the forefront as a critical technology of any O-RAN testbed. Spirent is the market leader in real-time emulation, from the 5G Core, to individual O-RAN components, to the RF environment. Functional and performance tests of any of these components must have real emulation in real-time, at performance and at scale. Combined with industry-leading automation through a simplified user interface, this comprehensive O-RAN portfolio reduces test time while increasing test coverage and enabling CI/CD processes,” said Kimery.

For more information, visit https://www.spirent.com/solutions/open-ran-testing

About Spirent

Spirent Communications plc. (LSE: SPT) is the leading global provider of automated test and assurance solutions for networks, cybersecurity, and positioning. The company provides innovative products, services and managed solutions that address the test, assurance, and automation challenges of a new generation of technologies, including 5G, SD-WAN, cloud, autonomous vehicles and beyond. From the lab to the real world, Spirent helps companies deliver on their promise to their customers of a new generation of connected devices and technologies. For more information visit www.spirent.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Mavenir

Mavenir is building the future of networks and pioneering advanced technology, focusing on the vision of a single, software-based automated network that runs on any cloud. As the industry’s only end-to-end, cloud-native network software provider, Mavenir is focused on transforming the way the world connects, accelerating software network transformation for 250+ Communications Service Providers and Enterprises in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230214005539/en/

MEDIA:

Americas:

Sherri Walkenhorst

Connect Marketing

T: +1-801-373-7888

sherriw@connectmarketing.com

Asia Pacific:

Janet Peng

Spirent Communications

T: +86 (10) 823 30055 (x160)

janet.peng@spirent.com

EMEA:

Anne Harding

The Message Machine

T: +44-7887-682943

anne@themessagemachine.com

Source: Spirent Communications plc

FAQ

What new testing solutions has Spirent Communications released?

Spirent has released end-to-end, O-DU, and RIC testing solutions, completing its O-RAN test portfolio.

How does Spirent's O-RAN testing benefit multi-vendor interoperability?

Spirent offers comprehensive multi-vendor interoperability testing using real-time emulation, ensuring reliable performance in live O-RAN environments.

What role does automation play in Spirent's O-RAN solutions?

Spirent's O-RAN solutions feature built-in automation with pre-built test libraries and integration into existing automation pipelines.

How does the new testing approach support 5G deployment?

The new testing approach simplifies the complex requirements of testing 5G networks, ensuring functional and performance validation for successful deployments.

What feedback has Mavenir given regarding Spirent's testing solutions?

Mavenir has praised Spirent for their real-time emulation capabilities, which are critical for ensuring their Open RAN components are market-ready.