Teradyne Announces Celerity Ti Test System; New Technology Determines Operational Impact of Bridged Taps.

Business/Technology Editors

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2000

Teradyne, Inc. (NYSE: TER) Broadband Test Division today announced Celerity Ti (bridged "Tap impact"), an enhanced version of the Celerity ADSL loop qualification test system designed specifically for networks that contain bridged taps and load coils. Celerity Ti's patented measurement techniques detect the presence of bridged taps and their operational impact by performing single-ended measurements through the narrowband switch test bus installed in today's voice switches. Celerity can mass qualify an entire network for ADSL in a matter of days and has already proven its ADSL prequalification capabilities in the European market with a major order and deployment at British Telecom.

Celerity Ti includes new technology that changes the paradigm of how the telecommunications industry currently deploys DSL on lines with bridged taps. For example, the system can determine whether the line is qualified for DSL with the bridged tap left in place, whether the line will support DSL service if removed, or whether the line will not support DSL service even if removed. Teradyne research indicates that large numbers of lines can support DSL service with the bridged tap left in place. In these situations, Celerity Ti can then significantly reduce dispatches, loop conditioning work, and allow more lines to be put into service sooner. Celerity Ti also accurately detects the presence of load coils.

System undergoing trial in large LEC in the U.S.

Research conducted by Teradyne with Local Exchange Carriers (LEC) in the U.S. indicates that bridged taps could exist on as many as 75% of copper lines. Today, when deploying ADSL, the LECs generally remove bridged taps as a part of conditioning the network for broadband services, whether for their own customers or for a C/DLEC under line sharing agreements. The process of finding and removing bridged taps and load coils using plant records and field dispatches is time consuming, labor intensive, and delays DSL deployment.

Celerity Ti can accurately determine the following:

--Green condition: the line will support broadband services now and the bridged tap does not need to be removed. Industry estimates are that approximately 55% of lines with bridged taps will carry DSL service at 384 kbps.

--Yellow condition: the line will support a nominal broadband rate if the bridged tap is removed. Industry estimates are approximately 15% of lines with bridged taps will carry service if the bridged tap is removed.

--Red condition: the line does not support broadband services even if the bridged tap is removed due to the presence of other impairments such as length or excessive insertion loss. Industry estimates are that 30% of lines with bridged taps will not carry service even if the tap is removed.

"Research also indicates that in there is large percentage of lines that will support DSL service with the bridged tap in place. Using the information provided by Celerity Ti, LECs can plan their line conditioning work much more effectively and avoid unnecessary dispatches. This will allow them to speed-up the deployment of ADSL to meet strong customer demand as well as revenue targets," said Chris Barton, Celerity product manager.

Celerity provides these conclusions by combining expert system analysis and specialized narrowband measurements executed through the low frequency test bus in today's deployed switches. Teradyne has proven the capability using in their state-of-the-art cable farm and is now engaged in a large trial with a major U.S. local exchange carrier (LEC) utilizing several switch architectures, including the 5ESS.

Celerity Ti also provides key information in determining need for line repair. It is not always necessary to remove taps to achieve a modem speed, nor does removing a tap always provide sufficiently improved speeds to warrant the expense of removal. However, when a tap could cause a "no sync" condition, it is important to know in advance of provisioning that its removal will allow the ADSL service to operate. Celerity analysis provides a recommendation for qualification, disqualification, or repair. This conclusion is based on determination of insertion loss per line using patented narrowband measurement techniques, and then adjusting for the impact of individual manufacturers' modems and the network noise masks custom for each LEC. Teradyne research and Celerity Ti measurements indicate that many of the bridged taps in place today do not need to be removed for the line to support broadband services.

"The copper telephone network was not deployed with the intent to support high speed data services," said Frank Bauer, director of advanced technology at Teradyne's Broadband Test Division. "In today's copper loops, speed impairments such as imbalances, bridged taps and load coils exist on a significant percentage of the lines. Celerity Ti detects those impairments and makes an accurate determination whether they will affect broadband service on the line."

"This information has a significant value to LECs because they target their repair effort where it will provide most advantage in bringing broadband services sooner. Celerity Ti is able to achieve its breakthrough performance from the extensive understanding we have gained of modem performance under varied network conditions," added Bauer.

Proven Technology

Teradyne's Celerity(TM) system performs tests through the existing narrow-band switch test bus. With proven expert system software technology and a DSP test head, Celerity performs accurate, single-ended qualification, provisioning and service assurance testing for broadband services.

Celerity Ti's patented measurement and analysis algorithms were developed and confirmed using Teradyne's state-of-the-art research facility, the CableFarm. The CableFarm is one of only a few test facilities in the world that can be configured as a real-world network - where modem performance can be characterized over combinations of nearly 100,000 feet of cable including different lengths and gauges, terminations, bridged taps, load coils and other speed impairments.

About Teradyne Broadband Test Division:

Teradyne Broadband Test Division develops state-of-the-art testing capabilities that support service provider's goals to sell and deploy more services sooner and improve the efficiency of qualification, provisioning, and customer care. Teradyne's seven years of internet protocol testing experience combined with industry leading experience in DSL testing enhances its 27 years experience in providing test systems that support voice customer care for over 110 million voice lines worldwide. For more information on Teradyne's Broadband Test Products, visit Teradyne at: http://www.teradyne.com/prods/ttd/ttdhome.html