EXFO Delivers Enhanced CPRI Testing Capabilities Simplifying Fiber-to-the-Antenna (FTTA) and Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Deployments
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, February 10, 2015 — EXFO Inc. (NASDAQ: EXFO; TSX: EXF) today announced the evolution of its all-in-one Ethernet/optical FTB-700G Series and FTB-800 NetBlazer Series to provide an enhanced common public radio interface (CPRI) protocol testing solution. This latest feature gives field technicians the capabilty to install and maintain fronthaul networks by testing connectivity and data integrity between the remote radio head (RRH) and baseband unit (BBU) in new fiber-fed cell towers. This enhanced CPRI functionality reduces the need for unnecessary tower climbs, hence reducing maintenance costs and overall OPEX.
Legacy cell towers with copper cabling are rapidly being upgraded towards fiber optic infrastructures. These new fiber-fed architectures offer incredible flexibility and scalability, helping mobile network operators to guarantee service coverage and increase the capacity of their fronthaul radio access networks.
Alongside fiber, CPRI is playing a major role in the advancement of the tower. CPRI is a new protocol that runs between the BBU and RRH which digitizes incoming radio frequency signal over fiber. With CPRI, the base station no longer needs to be directly adjacent to the antenna on rooftops or any other costly, inefficient locations. Instead, the base station can be installed in locations where size, climate and availability of power are more easily managed.
The extended CPRI functionality is fully integrated into EXFO’s FTB-700G and FTB-800 NetBlazer Series portable field testers, bearing user-friendly interfaces. This greatly facilitates the work of field technicians new to CPRI and fiber since the test instruments are designed and pre-configured to deliver comprehensive results with minimum training.
“Bringing the latest test and measurement functions such as CPRI into the FTB-700G and NetBlazer Series portable test instruments demonstrates EXFO’s leadership and focus on making field technicians work
more efficiently and with greater visibility,” said Claudio Mazzuca, Vice-President, Transport and Service Assurance Division. “By continuously adding new and innovative test functionalities and addressing real field challenges, EXFO is strongly committed to making its multiservice testers the industry’s most complete and simple test solution.”
The market-leading FTB-700G test solution with the latest CPRI protocol testing feature will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress 2015 (Barcelona, Spain, March 2-5, Booth #6K36, Hall 6).
For further details about the FTB-700G and FTB-800 NetBlazer Series, visit EXFO.com.
About EXFO
Listed on the NASDAQ and TSX stock exchanges, EXFO is a leading provider of next-generation test, service assurance and end-to-end quality of experience solutions for mobile and fixed network operators and equipment manufacturers in the global telecommunications industry. EXFO’s intelligent solutions with contextually relevant analytics improve end-user quality of experience, enhance network performance and drive operational efficiencies throughout the network and service delivery lifecycle. Key technologies supported include 3G, 4G/LTE, VoLTE, IMS, video, Ethernet/IP, SNMP, OTN, FTTx, xDSL and various optical technologies accounting for more than 38% of the global portable fiber-optic test market. EXFO has a staff of approximately 1600 people in 25 countries, supporting more than 2000 customers worldwide. For more information, visit EXFO.com and follow us on the EXFO Blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.