Product Validation and Release Testing

The client was a global enabler of communications services with a complete, well-balanced product portfolio spanning both wireless and wireline network infrastructure.

The company understands the challenges that traditional telecom businesses face in managing complex and overlapping network layering and architecture. Therefore, it focuses on driving the transition towards simplified network architecture enabled through innovative, environmentally sustainable solutions that facilitate rapid growth.

The client primarily faced a growing pressure to curtail costs and overheads incurred in managing multiple, large and complex systems (product lines). The costs and complexity was increased as most of these systems were managed by teams spread across different geographies. Another key challenge was to seamlessly evolve the multiple product lines through next generation technology releases (from GSM to GPRS to EDGE).

To address these challenges, the company decided to transition the maintenance of its BTS products, including release testing, feature additions, validation and verification, to a strategic partner. The partner would need to improve operational efficiency and automate test processes.

Aricent Solution

The solution offered by Aricent included maintenance, enhancement and evolution of the BTS software through multiple next generation technology releases - from GSM to GPRS to EDGE. As multiple product lines needed to be enhanced and tested, the Aricent team conducted a thorough analysis of the existing technology, products and services at the customer site. Subsequently, the entire development and testing of these product lines were transferred to Aricent facilities offshore. Quickly ramping up its team to 60 engineers within 12 weeks, Aricent assumed the complete ownership of the BTS solution and completed the entire transition within a record time of six months, far exceeding the customer’s expectations.

Test Setup for BTS Testing

Salient features of Aricent’s testing solution include;

• Capture and analysis of traces on Abis Interface
• Use of Work Station for BTS commissioning and configurations
• End-to-end call testing
• Mobile Station (MS) connected to GPRS/Data call set-up as and when required
• Nethawk tool connected to Gb, an interface for protocol message monitoring as per the requirement of test case

With the transition complete, Aricent today supports all development and testing activities for the BTS software product lines and is responsible for feature additions, end-to-end testing and post- implementation support services.

Aricent has already completed over 200 person years of project execution since the project started in 2006. Today, with a team of over 100 engineers, Aricent provides the customer with technology expertise in the following areas:

• GSM/GPRS
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
• Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
• Abis and Air interface protocols

Results

Aricent is now a key strategic partner for this client and has taken over the complete ownership of managing and testing several product lines. Aricent’s solution delivered the following significant benefits to the customer:

• CAPEX and OPEX savings of more than USD 20 Million
• Complete ownership of the customer’s BTS product line in 6 months, leading to lower overheads for the client
• Successful roll-out of more than 15 releases on the operators’ live networks