EXFO Collaborates with China Mobile to Design Network for IoT

EXFO Inc., the network testing, monitoring and analytics experts, reported that China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC), with the aid of EXFO's test solution – the only one that covered all the test necessities – effectively concluded a performance verification test for the core networks from four major vendors; ratifying whether these NFV-based networks can independently support five million narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) devices.

Since NB-IoT specification got approved in June 2016, communication service providers have been preparing to launch this service in their network. They are upgrading their network by adding extra features to handle the incredible capacity that the millions of IoT devices will require. Handling the IoT traffic is primarily different from the traditional mobile broadband or VoLTE traffic. Validating the equipment and the network is essential to ensure that they offer the quality of experience anticipated by end users while avoiding expensive post-deployment faults.

EXFO's full test solution was desired for three key reasons:

• Robust performance: capacity to mimic millions of IoT devices on one single server, keeping network configuration simple
• Unique flexibility: ability to adapt to quickly evolving specifications and specific needs
• Wide-ranging test coverage: covers the network from end to end, including focus on separate nodes

Communication service providers have to ensure that new IoT equipment introduced into the network will be compatible with existing network nodes before they go live. Through our local presence, we were able to deliver quick turnaround times to adapt to CMCC's specific requirements. Our test solutions come with unmatched flexibility giving them an edge in today's rapidly transforming telecom landscape.

Claudio Mazzuca, EXFO Vice-President

EXFO provides complete solutions for the validation of 2G/3G/4G/5G networks and equipment for all sorts of services. These test solutions are also future-proofed to confirm unique services for forthcoming 5G networks.