Minacom Announces Triple-Play Service Quality and Reliability Testing Using Cable Transponders.

DENVER -- Cable Operators Can Now Perform VoIP, Internet and Digital-Video Service Quality Loopback Tests to Transponders, and Query Them for Performance and Reliability Statistics

Minacom, the leading VoIP test solution provider for Cable MSOs, announced today new test capabilities within the widely-deployed DirectQuality(R) R7 service level test automation platform that allow operators to troubleshoot and monitor VoIP, Internet, and digital video service quality by using cable transponders in the hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) network as test responders.

PowerProbe(R) service level test probes running Minacom's Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) Streamer test agent can now perform loopback tests to cable transponders and measure key service quality metrics including VoIP speech quality (MOS, R-factor), packet jitter, delay, loss and a wide variety of other measurements to validate digital-video, Internet/data, and VoIP media quality and transmission performance. Tests streams can simulate over 35 different audio and video codecs, with user-definable jitter-buffer, IP precedence / ToS settings, packet interval, payload size and other common service/network parameters, for versatile service-quality testing that closely replicates actual network traffic. Minacom's loopback testing works with all transponders certified to data-over-cable service interface specification (DOCSIS(R)) version 2.0, as well as DOCSIS v.1.x transponders supporting loopback functionality via SMRP, including Tollgrade Cheetah(R) transponders and end-of-line probes which were recently awarded Minacom Certified VoIP Test Integration.

In addition, Minacom's DirectReach(R) test agents can now collect performance and management statistics from transponder management information-bases (MIBs); when combined with RTP-loopback testing, cable operators have concurrent access to performance information at the physical, RF, network and service layers from the DirectQuality decision support system, accelerating troubleshooting and problem resolution while significantly reducing technician dispatches.

Performance information available from transponders include upstream/downstream RF frequencies and power levels, modulation, bandwidth, upstream packet loss rate, pre/post FEC error rates, and downstream signal-to-noise and modulation error ratios (SNR/MER) that are used to gauge the health of a digitally modulated carrier signal. Reliability statistics can also be retrieved, including reset history, invalid messages received and power supply performance information (voltage/current for batteries, battery-strings and inverters, thermal data and alarms). DirectQuality can also access QAM troubleshooting measurements including downstream constellation data from transponders supporting this functionality.

Minacom's GatewayDQ(R) OSS-integration application lets Cable MSOs access transponder inventory/location information stored in element management systems (EMS) from within DirectQuality's test management OSS. When a subscriber reports a service quality issue, faults can be quickly isolated and characterized by testing to all transponders on the HFC link serving the subscriber. DirectQuality test automation can be used to provide proactive service quality and reliability monitoring by scheduling recurring tests to all transponders in a network, reporting service degradation or failures to existing fault-management systems. Minacom's transponder loopback testing and performance data collection techniques are compatible with devices from all major manufacturers, including Electroline, AM Networks, and Tollgrade.

"Transponder remote-testing compliments DirectQuality's ability to perform audio/analog and RTP loopback testing to subscriber-MTAs, providing complete remote troubleshooting and monitoring test visibility throughout the cable access network," explained Michel Nadeau, President and CEO of Minacom, adding "Minacom provides the most complete day-of-install VoIP test solution with our PowerProbe 30 responder, as well as probe-to-probe and single-ended testing for advanced on-net and off-net service quality monitoring. By now supporting remote testing to MTAs and transponders, Minacom has added cost-effective remote-troubleshooting to our award-winning provisioning and test-automation solutions, giving Cable MSOs the complete end-to-end test coverage they need to deliver best-in-class VoIP and triple-play services."

Michel Nadeau will provide a complete overview of VoIP deployment, troubleshooting and monitoring techniques at the SCTE CableTec Conference in Denver, Colorado, as an invited speaker in the session, "Maximizing VoIP Network Uptime" scheduled on the 22nd and 23rd of June.

Minacom's DirectQuality R7 test automation solutions are specifically designed to help Telcos and Cable MSO's deploy and maintain VoIP/telephony, video, IPTV, internet, fax and modem services. DirectQuality's web-based OSS interacts seamlessly with legacy operational support systems, integrating service quality into existing business processes including fault management and customer support systems.

Minacom solutions will be demonstrated at the SCTE CableTec EXPO, Booth #1931, 20-23 June, 2006, in Denver, Colorado.

About Minacom

Minacom builds Service Level Test Systems for Telcos and Cable MSOs, and Internet Telephony Service Providers. Minacom's automated test systems help maintain the integrity and quality of large-scale multi-service deployments, including Voice, VoIP, IPTV, Caller ID, Voicemail, Conferencing, Fax, Dial-Up Modem, Video Conferencing, and IP Services from Ping and DNS to Audio & Video RTP Streaming.

Minacom systems are web-controlled by a centralized server platform that integrates years of operational experience into test setups, test strategies and result analysis rules used by over 70 operators worldwide including at&t, Comcast, France Telecom, Liberty Global, Primus, Orange, Clearwire, VSNL and Bellsouth, as well as softswitch manufacturers such as Siemens, Cedar Point and Ericsson. Experience Minacom's QoS test automation live at www.minacom.com/try.

Minacom, Simplifying Service Assurance, DirectQuality, DirectCare, DirectReach and PowerProbe are registered trademarks of Minacom. All other trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective owners.