NEBS (Network Equipment Building Systems) is the most commonly used set of safety, spatial and environmental design guidelines applied to the telecommunications equipment in the United States. NEBS is a testing suite comprised of three different levels of operability and strict equipment requirements.

To address the potential risks associated with the operation of various forms of network equipment, the telephone companies, the FCC (News - Alert), and various trade groups worked together to create a universal set of specifications for development of network facilities equipment.

The four largest U.S. telecommunications companies, AT&T, Verizon, BellSouth, and Qwest (News - Alert), created the Telecommunications Carrier Group (TCG), a group formed to synchronize NEBS standards across the industry in the U.S.

The NEBS system remains extremely relevant in today’s market because of the highly reliable product it guarantees and produces, without the huge price tag (News - Alert).

Equipment that passes through NEBS cycle of testing ensures reliability, and those manufacturers who employ NEBS compliant equipment are given insurance benefits. There are fewer risk levels as the equipment will work no matter what circumstances surround it.

Previously, NEBS testing could take up to two to three months to complete all phases of testing and cost anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000. Now, testing works by taking commercial products directly off the shelf and then adapting it to meet NEBS standards, resulting in a quicker and cheaper process.

In an interview with Jeff Hudgins (News - Alert), vice president of marketing at NEI, Hudgins talked about a scenario where a Dell platform was taken and “Nebsified,” aka tailored to NEBS specifications. This drastically lowered the cost base. Hudgins called this implementation of products already on the market infiltrated with NEBS requirements as “the best of both worlds.”