Agilent Technologies have introduced a drive test solution for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) that allows network equipment manufacturers and wireless service providers to integrate voice-quality measurements with drive test RF data used in the optimisation of wireless networks. Agilent Technologies have added the VoIP test sequence as a software upgrade to their drive test platform, which supports RF measurements for all established wireless technologies. Current Agilent Technologies drive test customers can purchase the VoIP solution while protecting their earlier investment in the drive test platform.
According to Dave Stewart, General Manager, Drive Test Business -Network Solution Division, Agilent Technologies, although carriers are migrating to IP-based networks such as WiMAX and LTE so that they can deliver a wide-range of data services. However, voice will remain the primary source of revenue in the foreseeable future. Voice quality is the major determinate of customer satisfaction, and operators will not profit from additional services if they cannot keep customers with high-quality voice communication. The drive test solution from Agilent Technologies uses the same database for VoIP and RF measurements and enhances engineers' ability to ensure the quality of all services by correlating voice and RF data.
The new solution provides end-to-end service quality measurements of SIP-based VoIP communication. This drive test solution works by generating real-time transport protocol (RTP) streams that mimic VoIP traffic. The software takes time-stamped measurements as the RTP traffic flows between two endpoints in the data network. The measurements include R-Factor MOS, packet loss and delay and jitter, and can be automated within the same drive test software that simultaneously measures RF. The VoIP solution works for all established mobile data service such as WiMAX, UMTS, EVDO and will work for LTE as soon as a compliant phone is developed. The Agilent B9990A-510 Drive-Test VoIP solution and B9990A-515 Remote VoIP solution are available now.