EXFO (News - Alert) Inc. recently announced the integration of Rohde & Schwarz's FSH handheld spectrum analyzers into EXFO’s cloud-based FTTA turn-up test automation solution. EXFO ran test sets covering RF, cable, optical cable and Ethernet technologies that turned out to be extremely successful. This innovative cloud-based solution was showcased at the 2014 Mobile World Congress (News - Alert). EXFO Inc. is a leading provider of next-generation test and service assurance solutions for the telecommunications industry.

In a release, Christina Gessner, head of product management, Spectrum (News - Alert) and Network Analyzers, Rohde & Schwarz, said, "With the R&S FSH Handheld Spectrum Analyzer integrated in EXFO Connect, mobile operators can easily access RF and cable measurement results within EXFO's cloud-based data management system."

The EXFO Connect platform provides a full featured solution and enables mobile network operators (MNO) to rollout additional capacity and new cells in shorter durations. The centralized solution includes turn-up; near real-time test result handling with a closed feedback loop to provide actionable results; activation and troubleshooting of remote radio heads (RRH), distributed antenna systems (DAS), small cells and cloud-RAN; tracking quality issues and recording for historical reference with powerful analytics; and APIs for north bound data and process integration.

Etienne Gagnon (News - Alert), VP Physical Layer & Wireless Division, EXFO, said, "Addressing the mobile operators' requirement proactively is key to us and, with our partnership with Rohde & Schwarz (News - Alert), we are able to address this requirement. By working together, we are able to offer MNOs a total and integrated deployment solution to help them face their turn-up challenges."

The integration of EXFO's FTB-1 platform and R&S FSH Handheld Spectrum Analyzer into EXFO Connect can be achieved through mobile or fixed broadband connectivity, and will enable MNOs to provide an innovative level of control and automation to their network operators, engineering and construction teams.

Apart from this, MNOs can automatically collect, turn-up, test and troubleshoot data that is pushed from test instruments in the field to a centralized cloud-based database; comprehensive analytics can be gathered, and optimized to analyze RF, optical fiber integrity, Ethernet backhaul, and overall access network quality & trends throughout the lifecycle; and methods and procedure automation offer process compliance, improved efficiency, network quality and reliability tracking.