Testing & Certification Programs

Since 1994, the Forum has had an objective to establish interoperability in the broadband marketplace. Initially focused exclusively on DSL, the scope of that commitment has extended to meeting end-to-end broadband testing requirements including DSL, fiber, MPLS and home networking related testing. Supporting the standards set by SDOs, our program includes 1) developing common test requirements, 2) establishing a test suite which normally includes functional as well as performance tests, and finally 3) hosting test events also known as plugfests, which can include private members only multivendor plugfests, conformance testing, public interoperability demonstrations and/or certification.

Below is a summary of the programs around each area of current testing.

Fiber Testing & Certification (G-PON, EPON)

• Global Registry of Broadband Forum GPON ONU Certified Products
• G-PON ONU Certification Launch Press Release
• G-PON Certification Overview Presentation
• Broadband Forum G-PON ONU FAQs

In 2010, the Broadband Forum established the Fiber Access Network (FAN) working group, which has a close relationship to the sister working groups at FSAN. The Forum's latest fiber related initiatives include access agnostic remote management specifications, new G-PON network solutions and PON device data models, improving providers' ability to deploy hybrid networks and manage the digital home efficiently regardless of broadband transportation means. All the work to develop technical specifications related to Optical Access Nodes and associated test plans for conformance and inter-vendors interoperability takes place at (or is reviewed at) our quarterly meetings-so you know exactly where to go to ensure your requirements are met and your products are part of these industry critical global plugfests and certification program.

Fiber related requirements documents:

• TR-156 Issue 2: Using G-PON Access in the context of TR-101
• TR-167 Issue 2: G-PON-fed TR-101 Ethernet Access Node
• TR-200: Using EPON in the Context of TR-101

Fiber test plans:

• TR-247 Part 1: G-PON ONU Abstract Test Plan
• OD-247: G-PON ONU Conformance Test Plan (private-members only access)
• WT-247 Part 2: OLT Conformance Test Plan (in development-members only access)
• WT-255: G-PON Interoperability Test Plan (in development-members only access)

The success of G-PON technologies has taken a significant step forward with the launch of the market's first ever G-PON Certification Program. To help the industry expedite fiber network rollout, this global G-PON ONU Certification program will pave the way for swift expansion of superfast broadband and the development of new technologies. It is based on test plans developed by the Broadband Forum and work undertaken jointly with FSAN (Full Service Access Network).

The BBF.247 certification program is open to GPON ONU products with Ethernet interfaces and is based on the Broadband Forum's OD-247 test plan. It tests conformance to TR-156 using OMCI as defined in the ITU G.988, which are the most critical standards to interoperable implementations. Additional test cases and modules for other configurations and functionalities will be added in the future.

The Broadband Forum has reviewed and authorized two independent testing agencies to administer the approved BBF.247 tests and assess eligibility of products for the Broadband Forum Certification. For more information or to schedule testing, please contact these laboratories directly:

• Iometrix - www.Iometrix.com (Offices in USA and China)
• LAN www.lanpark.eu (Offices in France and China)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The test houses involved in this program are independent third parties, and The Broadband Forum will accept test reports from test houses without further verification. The Broadband Forum takes no responsibility for, and shall have no liability as a result of, any action, inaction, error, breach or deficiency of a test house.

Since 2009, the BBF has collaborated with FSAN (Full Service Access Network) on interoperability testing plugfests on the physical, TC and upper layers for G-PON, with FSAN leading on the first two and BBF on the last.

For a list of upcoming fiber related plugfests:

Testing Event Calendar

xDSL (ADSL, SHDSL, ADSL2plus, VDSL2)

To drive interoperability, the Broadband Forum has developed a set of Technical Reports that provide the testing parameters for various DSL specifications.

• TR-023: Overview of ADSL Testing
• TR-067: ADSL Interoperability Test Plan
• TR-049: VoDSL Interoperability Test Plan
• TR-060 Issue 2: SHDSL Interoperability Test Plan
• TR-100: ADSL2/ADSL2plus Performance Test Plan
• TR-114: VDSL2 Performance Test Plan
• TR-114: VDSL2 Performance Test Plan Corrigendum 1
• TR-114: VDSL2 Performance Test Plan Corrigendum 2
• TR-115: VDSL2 Functionality Test Plan
• TR-115: VDSL2 Functionality Test Plan Corrigendum 1
• TR-115: VDSL2 Functionality Test Plan Corrigendum 2

• TR-138: Accuracy Tests for Test Parameters
• TR-138: Accuracy Tests for Test Parameters Corrigendum 1

• OD-O13: InterOperability Test Plan for ADSL2/2plus Plugfests (in development-members only access)
• OD-139: VDSL2 Interoperability Plugfest Test Plan (in development-members only access)

For a list of upcoming xDSL related test events:

Testing Event Calendar

xDSL Independent Testing Laboratory Initiatives:

xDSL tests plans that have been developed within the Broadband Forum are available to the industry to test and adhere to through our Independent Testing Lab (ITL) program, in which a list of accredited labs can administer tests using our test plans. See below for the list of recognized xDSL ITLs and related documents:

• xDSL Labs Accreditation Checklist
• xDSL ITL FAQ
• xDSL Recognized Independent Testing Labs
• xDSL ITL Agreement (members access only)

MPLS Related Testing

To advance the goal of faster and more cost effective service rollouts, the Broadband Forum has a groundbreaking certification program designed to verify adherence to critical IP/MPLS specifications. These technical specifications address areas of vital importance to the networking industry. These newly released as well as future certifications offered through the Broadband Forum MPLS Certification Program are driven by market requirements.

Requirements documents:

• WT-223: Requirements for MPLS Over Aggregated Interfaces (in development-members only access)

Current test plans available:

• TR-248: (IP/MPLS Forum 23.0.0) Abstract Test Suite for TDM Services over MPLS
• WT-225: Abstract Test Suite for ATM Services Over MPLS (in development-members only access)
• WT-241: Abstract Test Suite for Ethernet Services Over MPLS (in development-members only access)

To participate in the Broadband Forum MPLS Certification Program, one must be a member of the Broadband Forum.

To contact Iometrix, the Broadband Forum authorized certification lab, please visit Iometrix's website.

CWMP TR-069 Related Testing & Certification

Service providers face many challenges as they support the plethora of new devices, applications and services coming online. The challenges include managing the growing number of video and mobile related devices, IPv4 number exhaustion, interoperability and back office billing and operational support. The Broadband Forum developed CPE WAN Management Protocol (CWMP) as an remote management platform for service providers to be able to automatically recognized, remotely provision and maintain customers' devices over their lifecycle. In order to assure consistency and effectiveness of the protocol, a testing program and certification program is being put into place.

Requirements documents associated with these specifications:

• PD-266: Functional Requirements for Broadband Business Gateway Devices
• PD-143: Throughput performance tests and statistical monitoring
• OD-128: Interoperability Test Plan For TR-069 Plugfests

For a list of upcoming CWMP TR-069 related plugfests:

Testing Event Calendar

The Broadband Forum CWMP Certification Program is in development and should launch in 2012.

Home Networking Related Testing (G.hn)

The ITU developed G.hn as the first global home networking standard created to unify home networking services and devices over any wire, including coaxial cable, phone lines and power lines. The HomeGrid Forum and the Broadband Forum are working together to develop an interoperability program to verify the adherance to the ITU standard. The Broadband Forum's role is to lead the development of the test requirements documents and test plan to be used in the HomeGrid's formal Compliance and Interoperability program.

Various plugfests are taking place and are driven by vendor interest and the industry's desire to test first silicon and to demonstrate G.hn's market potential. The specific goals of these first G.hn plugfests are to perform early tests for interoperability and compliance of chipsets from a number of vendors, validate the test suite and act as a prelude to the launch of HomeGrid's formal Compliance and Interoperability program.

Test Plans & associated work:

• WT-208: Performance Test Plan for G.hn (in development-members only access)
• OD-195: Test Plan for G.hn interoperability plugfests (in development-members only access)
• OD-256: G.hn Use Case Scenarios (in development-members only access)

For a list of upcoming G.hn related plugfests:

Testing Event Calendar