3RD ISSUE, Q3 2011

TEMS NEWS

Test various scenarios

using multiple phones

IN THIS ISSUE:
Troubleshoot and optimize your mobile network with multivendor TEMS Visualization p. 2
Increasing versatility required from today's post-processing solutions p. 4
TEMS Investigation 13.1 The industry standard continues to lead the way p. 6
TEMS Supports flexible product-related services address various customer needs p. 7
Ascom and Altair sign LTE licensing agreement p. 8

WHEN TESTING INDOOR NETWORKS

NOTHING BEATS YOUR PHONE

p. 4

TEMS NEWS | Q3 2011

EFFICIENTLY TROUBLESHOOT AND OPTIMIZE YOUR MOBILE NETWORK

WITH MULTIVENDOR TEMS VISUALIZATION

By Harish Punjabi and Dean Lombardo

More often than not, mobile operator networks consist of

equipment based on multiple vendors and technologies. To
help operators better report, analyze, and optimize network
performance from end to end, Ascom Network Testing recently announced additional vendor support and a highly
scalable platform in the latest version of its wireless network troubleshooting and optimization solution, TEMS
Visualization 8.1 Enterprise.
Already the leading solution for Ericssons call trace formats
for 2G/GSM, 3G/WCDMA, and 4G/LTE, TEMS Visualization now
supports Nokia Siemens Networks Megamon GEO interface
for WCDMA, enabling operators to monitor and report on both
Ericsson and NSN network environments.
TEMS Visualization also caters to networks of different
sizes and requirements by enabling scalable server dimensions
ranging from a low-price, entry-level system, to a very highperformance, maximum system.
This support for multiple vendors and technologies, together with TEMS Visualizations hidden-problem resolution
and unmatched processing capacity, empowers operators to
cost-effectively manage their networks and the resultant explosion of subscriber traffic while ensuring quality of service
and reducing churn.

Data processing can be completely

automatic so that information is always
ready to be analyzed when needed

Bridge the Network Optimization Gap

TEMS Visualization captures event-based performance data
from the infrastructure to provide operators with a subscribercentric view of their networks something traditional network
performance management (NPM) systems dont do. Although
NPM tools provide high-level key performance indicators from
counter data, and drive-testing tools capture thin slices of
network traffic, TEMS Visualization derives detailed information from large volumes of live network traffic. Engineers can
use this data, which costs virtually nothing to collect, to understand not only how the network is performing, but also
which subscribers are negatively impacted, where they are,
what type of handset they are using, and which type of service
they are consuming.
In addition to TEMS Visualization Enterprise a client/server
system geared for large network operators and managed service providers TEMS Visualization comes in a desktop version, TEMS Visualization Professional, which is ideal for consultants and smaller operators. All told, more than 40
customers worldwide use TEMS Visualization to address their
network troubleshooting and optimization challenges.

TEMS NEWS | Q3 2011

Statistical data can be stored and

analyzed over longer time periods, giving
operators more confidence in their
decisions

NEW IN TEMS VISUALIZATION 8.1 ENTERPRISE

Ericsson LTE Cell Trace Module

Support for Ericsson L11B release

Overview

Histograms

Call search
Ericsson WCDMA Module

Support for Ericsson W11B release (General
Performance Event Handling [GPEH] and User
Equipment Traffic Recording [UETR]) gain insight
into large areas of the network as well as into issues
experienced by individual subscribers

Support for UETR format
--
Monitor and analyze VIP subscriber issues:
Statistics per IMSI, message drilldown, call search,
histograms, exception analysis, mapping, and
more
--
Support for IRAT (GSM) neighbor relation optimization

Support for IRAT (WCDMA to GSM) handovers

All information is graphically displayed for easy analysis

BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Faster troubleshooting and mean time to repair (MTTR) TEMS
Visualizations diagnostics features help engineers more quickly find
root causes for RF and network capacity problems, enabling
operators to enhance quality of service (QoS).

NSN Megamon Interface for WCDMA

WCDMA Megamon GEO interface format support
--
Includes call analysis and call-level drilldown

Core features
--
Map themes
--
Phone model KPI
--
Exception analysis

Reduced churn The ability to track performance over large areas of

the network or by specific cell, cluster, subscriber groups, individuals,
or phone models enables the operator to better ensure QoS for the
majority of subscribers as well as to protect high-value VIP accounts.
Improved decision making The large volumes of decoded event
data and smaller volumes of calculated statistical data are stored
separately. Thus, statistical data can be stored and analyzed over
longer time periods giving operators actionable information that

General

Distributed
processing: Four scalable licensing options for processing-intensive server systems from
Starter System to Maximum System

Reporting module
--
Cell performance overview report for GPEH
--
Scheduled creation of reports

fosters better decisions.

Reduced OPEX Ensure that your OSS tools can evolve to meet
the needs of your complex infrastructure by exploiting TEMS
Visualizations support for WCDMA, HSPA/HSPA+, and LTE
technologies.

TEMS NEWS | Q3 2011

WHEN TESTING INDOOR NETWORKS

NOTHING BEATS YOUR PHONE

Wireless voice and data traffic is on the rise in indoor environments, driven by smartphones and tablet PCs in their
new role as literature viewer, home entertainment system,
gaming console, and social media hub.
Already, more than half of todays estimated mobile data traffic and calls are generated from indoor environments, and this
percentage is only going to increase.* For operators to ensure
quality and avoid customer churn, testing the quality of service (QoS) in buildings and other enclosed locations is a must.
But security issues and the need to manually pinpoint location
pose stiff challenges.

Whats in the backpack, buddy?

Engineers need all kinds of approvals to enter some of the
buildings in which they test, in particular when entering corporate or closely monitored spaces such as airports, malls, or
arenas. Its not exactly "easy in" and "easy out" when youre
wearing a backpack or pushing a trolley containing a goodsized electronic device connected with wires. Often, the engineer must sign in, gain clearance, possess key cards, and wait
for his equipment to be inspected before entering a location.
Once testing is complete, exiting can be a problem as well: one
recent anecdote told of an engineer who was not allowed to
leave an arena with his laptop until after the event had concluded. Making matters worse, and more expensive for operators, is the fact that if interrupted the engineer has to begin
the test or tests all over again and possibly go through
another lengthy approval process.
Using a phone to test these in-building or difficult-todrive environments represents a more discreet, convenient,
and efficient alternative. Plus, if test phones are lost or confiscated, the loss is far less costly than if the testing unit had
been a larger piece of equipment.
The multitesting/benchmarking challenge
When using a phone to test an indoor environment, where GPS
coverage is not available, the engineer must resort to manual
means of positioning. Most commonly this involves taking a

Increasing Versatility Required From

Todays Post-Processing Solutions

TEMS Discovery supports multiple vendors and data sources, thus

eliminating the need for (and cost of) multiple reporting tools. It provides logfile support for market-leading vendors, such as Ascom

The worlds most versatile post-processing solution just got better.

Network Testing (TEMS), and including Anite (Nemo), JDSU, Qualcomm

TEMS Discovery, a wireless network reporting and analytics tool for

QxDM, ZK Celltest, and LGE LTE DM (LLDM) support for the latter two

indoor test post-processing, drive test analysis, and LTE network di-

added in the recent release of TEMS Discovery 3.1.

agnostics, has added support for additional data collection tools and
technology formats, rounding out the solutions ability to report on

Extended network and root cause diagnostics

and analyze todays next-generation wireless networks.

TEMS Discovery 3.1 offers enhanced capabilities for detecting and

focusing in on error events, empowering the operator to more quickly

Extended multivendor support

and accurately fix the most common problems that impact subscribers.

Using and maintaining multiple reporting tools to process data from

The tools diagnostics fall into two categories: network diagnostics

different data collection products can be expensive for a number of

and root cause diagnostics. In this first category, problems like

reasons. First, there are the purchase and maintenance costs of each

swapped feeders and pilot pollution are automatically highlighted,

post-processing tool. Second, there is the expense of educating people

alerting users to these issues and enabling them to drill down to de-

on how to use multiple tools. And sometimes, even after training,

termine the cause and provide a faster resolution. Root cause diag-

theres a learning curve where initially users are not all that pro-

nostics provide a more granular view of the error event, supplying

ductive with the tool.

information such as no signal, bad coverage, or missing neighbor.

picture of the floor plan then placing breadcrumbs on the

resulting map to pinpoint the approximate location of each
position tested. Each breadcrumb is a dot on the floor plan
map that consists of X and Y coordinates and a time stamp.
Traditionally, if that same phone is being used to test, for example, the voice quality of a providers network, and the engineer wishes to concurrently test something else such as
voice QoS over a rival service providers network a second
phone must be used. However, each additional testing phone
requires the creation of a separate map and second trail of
breadcrumbs, which introduces an additional series of manual pinpointing steps.
Wouldnt it be nice if you could keep a separate phone
(or phones) in your pocket or jacket that is autonomously
taking measurements of that second operators network
without the hassle of additional manual pinpointing?

* An estimated more than half of global wireless voice and data traffic is generated indoors; Analysys Mason, a leading global market research and advisory firm, anticipates this number to grow to over 80% for data traffic by 2016.

TEMS NEWS | Q3 2011

The TEMS Pocket advantage

TEMS Pocket, the leading industry tool for indoor and difficult-to-access network testing and measurement, now has the
ability to merge the positioning data from a master phone into
the logfiles of the other phones used during a test. This enables the engineer to test various scenarios using multiple
phones without having to perform manual pinpointing on each
testing device used, saving the operator time and money, and
everyone involved a lot of hassle.
An all-in-one cell phone/smartphone and advanced test
tool, TEMS Pocket is a complementary part of the Ascom
Network Testing TEMS Portfolio. Measurements from TEMS
Pocket, as well as the TEMS Investigation drive test and network optimization tool, the TEMS Symphony advanced wireless network benchmarking solution, and the TEMS Automatic
autonomous air interface monitoring system, can be automatically uploaded to our powerful post-processing tool,
TEMS Discovery, for further, holistic network troubleshooting
and analysis.
By Michael Carlberg Lax and Dean Lombardo

Users can add rules to automatically diagnose other common problems,

(call trace data) with drive test data, giving these users both the over-

thus further automating problem-solving and adding to efficiency.

all statistics and the specifics they need to report and analyze error
events. This equips operators with a more complete picture of network

Multidimension statistical analysis

performance in a single post-processing and network troubleshooting

Once a problem is detected, the user in addition to being able to drill

solution.

down can also view the event across a number of dimensions. For
example, an issue such as signal strength can be traced to area, then

New technology supported

cluster, and site, and also be viewed by day of the week and time of

Thanks to the addition of CDMA EV-DO Rev. B and TD-LTE support,

day (perhaps during the local rush hour). Looking at logfile data from

TEMS Discovery now supports all of the 3G and 4G technologies in the

that specific period can help determine the factors leading to poor

world. Other specific formats supported include cdma2000, 1xEV,

service and fortify operators with the information they need to pro-

GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX,

actively address the issues (e.g., interference and capacity problems)

and LTE. Such varied support enables truly seamless inter-RAT analysis,

at that specific location the next time.

multi-RAT benchmarking, and easy evolution into any emerging technologies.

LTE call trace

TEMS Discoverys support for LTE call trace is an important enhancement that will help operators troubleshoot next-generation mobile
networks. Users can correlate data from logfiles from the network side

By Mikael Burman and Dean Lombardo

TEMS NEWS | Q3 2011

TEMS INVESTIGATION 13.1 THE INDUSTRY STANDARD

CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY

With the release of TEMS Investigation 13.1, the tools capabilities have been extended in several areas. New features include support for CDMA/EV-DO Rev. B, more LTE functionality,
a fresh audio quality measurement solution, a helpful software
update service, and an expanded selection of devices.
Moving forward with CDMA/EV-DO
The latest release of TEMS Investigation adds support for
CDMA/EV-DO Rev. B measurement and analysis capabilities.
This new functionality allows users to connect and collect information from devices built on a range of Qualcomm CDMA/
EV-DO Rev. B chipsets. Basic radio parameters, multicarrier
serving channel information, and forward link multicarrier RLP
throughput can be viewed in presentation windows for analysis and optimization purposes.
Leading-edge LTE
Today, TEMS Investigation is used for trial, rollout, and optimization of LTE networks in more than 40 countries around the
world. TEMS Investigation 13.0 broke new ground in the TD-LTE
arena, and the latest release continues that initiative by introducing support for the Sequans TD-LTE chipset (SQN3010). In
addition, TEMS Investigation 13.1 offers a number of LTErelated enhancements:

CS fallback events and information

Improved handling of Qualcomm-based LTE devices,
including network connect and multiconnect

Additional RACH-related LTE information elements

Extended range of connectable LTE equipment
Expanded audio quality measurement portfolio
TEMS Investigation 13.1 introduces a new cost-efficient measurement solution for mobile-to-mobile audio quality assessment. Two or four mobile devices, which call each other in pairs,
are connected to an audio capturing unit (ACU) which relays
the audio to the PC. The PESQ calculation is done by the PC
itself. The activities of the devices are completely controlled
from TEMS Investigation by means of a Service Control script,
just as in the existing TEMS Investigation AQM setup.
In TEMS Investigation 13.1 the new AQM solution has
been implemented for these phones: Sony Ericsson Xperia arc,
Sony Ericsson W995, Nokia C7-00 (GSM/WCDMA), Leadcore
LC8142 (TD-SCDMA), and Huawei C8600 (CDMA).

By Peter Vungi
and Eric Allstrom

Expanded scanner portfolio

The scanning enhancements, introduced in TEMS Investigation
13.1, include an enlarged scope of use of PCTEL SeeGull MX
and Rohde & Schwarz TSMW scanners. It promotes better
utilization of investments and enables efficient work processes
as multiple technologies can be measured simultaneously.

Utilize PCTEL SeeGull MX for CDMA/EV-DO measurements

WCDMA scanning capabilities enabled on Rohde &
Schwarz TSMW Universal Radio Network Analyzer

Support for Anritsu ML8780A

Verification of new PCTEL scanner configurations
Software update service
It is easier than ever for users to stay current with the latest
patch releases. A software update service has been added that
regularly checks for new releases, facilitating efficient administration processes and minimizing waiting times.
Android-based smartphone with advanced control
functionality
The Samsung Galaxy S 4G allows the user to control the behavior of the device in order to perform specific measurements
or create certain scenarios for testing purposes. It is an Androidbased, high-speed, UMTS smartphone with control functionality
on a par with the ever-popular Sony Ericsson W995.
Implementation and verification of new devices
With close to 300 verified connectable devices, TEMS Investigation
offers the user great freedom when selecting test devices to
use. Some of the latest additions to the device list are:

Sequans SQN3010A-USB-M1

Sierra Wireless AirCard 313U

Huawei E392, E367, E372, C8600, and M860

ZTE AC8710

LG KV600 and KV755
Expect upcoming releases of TEMS Investigation to incorporate
usability improvements to increase efficiencies associated
with drive testing and indoor measurements, new service testing capabilities to address upcoming requirements, general
technology enhancements, and support for new chipsets and
devices.

The latest release adds support for CDMA/EV-DO Rev. B measurement

and analysis capabilities

TEMS NEWS | Q3 2011

TEMS SUPPORTS

FLEXIBLE PRODUCT-RELATED SERVICES

Data upload and data

collection administration

Remote operation
and maintenance

TEMS NOC

CUSTOMER

Application Management

CUSTOMER

Application Hosting
Data collection
administration

Remote access

Data upload

For this type of carrier-class, system solution, Ascom Network

Testings TEMS Support offers a wide range of product-related
(a k a, product-near) services to help mobile network operators and consulting companies get the most out of their TEMS
products while increasing organizational efficiency.
TEMS products such as the TEMS Monitor Master wireless
application performance monitoring system and the TEMS
Automatic unattended network testing system involve more
than just probes. These system solutions often consist of a central server, and multiple chassis/probes and in the case of
TEMS Monitor Master, a Quality Manager server, Projector data
warehouse, and test devices situated inside each probe.
TEMS Monitor Master customers can contract TEMS
Support for expert assistance during system installation to get
the system up and running as soon as possible, or throughout
the products life cycle to get the most out of that system. This
latter option can include the configuration of additional probes
as the operators testing requirements grow. Several U.S. operators some of which employ up to 200 agents/probes,
each with up to eight test devices contract TEMS Support to
receive these types of services.
TEMS Support also offers test scripting services to help
operators develop, test, and troubleshoot the scripts that tell
the test devices associated with TEMS Monitor Master and
other products what to do.

In both scenarios, TEMS Support experts manage the system,

either from Skelleftea, Sweden, or remotely. The customer gets
Web-based reports which are automatically processed based
on the data the customer collects through drive testing or
other means.

TEMS NOC

From an IT perspective, owning and managing network and

application performance monitoring systems can be a timeand resource-intensive task. As a result, some network operators are turning management responsibility for these
complex system solutions over to IT vendors. This transference empowers the operators to focus on more revenuedriven activities such as launching new services and ensuring network and service quality.

Application Management and Hosting

With some TEMS customers, these product-near services go a
step further. For example, some TEMS Automatic customers
have chosen not to own or manage the system in order to save
on capital and/or operational expenses:

The customer can save on OPEX when it allows TEMS
Support to remotely install, manage, and troubleshoot the systems located at the customer site (application management).
The customer can realize both CAPEX and OPEX savings
when it leaves the full ownership and operation of the
back-end system to TEMS Support (application hosting).

TEMS Support can also provide these application hosting and

management services on a project basis. Other product-near
services include a setup service for the TEMS Visualization
Enterprise network optimization tool, and a scripting service
for the TEMS Discovery post-processing tool.
To find out more about TEMS Supports product-near services,

educational offerings, and more, please visit the TEMS Support

data sheet >>
By Dean Lombardo

OCTOBER
19-21, Andicom 2011 Cartagena, Colombia
26-27, 4G World 2011 Chicago, Illinois
31-November 1st, CariCam 2011 Trinidad
& Tobago
NOVEMBER
8-9, LTE Americas 2011 Dallas, Texas
9-11, AfricaCom 2011 Cape Town, SA

ASCOM AND ALTAIR SIGN LTE

LICENSING AGREEMENT
Inclusion of Altairs chipset into Ascom solution will allow operators to
test and deploy 4G networks faster!
Ascom Network Testing Inc. and 4G LTE chipmaker Altair Semiconductor have announced
a licensing agreement which will address their common customers needs for network
testing solutions for TD-LTE and FD-LTE wireless network rollouts.

RECENT RELEASES:
TEMS Automatic 8.2 & TEMS Presentation 2.2
TEMS Automatic 8.3 & TEMS Presentation 2.3
TEMS Investigation 13.0 (China Edition)
TEMS Pocket 11.1
TEMS Route Reader 7.0
TEMS Support 4.0

Under the agreement, Ascom will receive licensed access to Altair TD-LTE and FD-LTE
modem interfaces. This access will enable timely support of Altair chipset-based
terminals in the network deployment and optimization tools that make up the TEMS
Portfolio. This agreement will help to further expand the TEMS TD-LTE portfolio and
demonstrates both companies commitment to and support of TD-LTE as a strategic
wireless technology.

TEMS Symphony 6.0

TEMS Symphony 6.1
TEMS Visualization 8.0 Professional
RECENT PATCHES:

Ascom is very pleased to partner with Altair, a company that has recently demonstrated
its quality products and ability to advance LTE technology in the market, says Erik
Tarnvik, VP of Marketing, Ascom Network Testing.

TEMS Automatic 8.3.1 &

TEMS Presentation 2.3.1

"In the highly competitive LTE market, a key differentiator for Altair is being able to

TEMS Discovery 2.1.5

provide both a core chipset technology as well as the complementary tools needed to

TEMS Discovery 3.0.1

enable smooth deployment and commercialization of LTE technologies," said Eran Eshed,

TEMS Discovery 3.0.2

Co-Founder and VP of Marketing and Business Development at Altair Semiconductor.

TEMS Discovery 3.0.4

"We are very excited to join forces with a leading vendor such as Ascom and are

TEMS Investigation 12.0.3

confident that this partnership will bring substantial value to our mutual customers."

TEMS Investigation 12.0.4

TEMS Investigation 12.1.1

This partnership allows Ascom to further expand its TD-LTE TEMS product portfolio and

TEMS Investigation 12.1.2

to address the market demand for LTE network testing solutions. Altair will benefit from

TEMS Investigation 13.0.1

Ascoms extensive installed customer base by ensuring that Altair-based test tools are

TEMS Investigation 13.0.2

available immediately for use by network operators and equipment vendors. As

TEMS Monitor Master 8.5.2

Altair-based terminals gain wider acceptance in the market, network operators will

TEMS Pocket 7.3.3

require advanced solutions to analyze the performance of their TD-LTE and FD-LTE

TEMS Support 3.1.1

networks.

TEMS Visualization 7.2.2

Ascom reserves the right to change specifications without notice. Ascom acknowledges all registered trademarks appearing herein.

Ascom Network Testing Inc.

1943 Isaac Newton Square
Reston | VA | 20190-5006 | USA
www.ascom.com/tems

10.2011 Ascom 2011. All rights reserved. TEMS is a trademark of Ascom. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. | NT11-20080 Ver. 1.0 Uen | Photo: Fotograf Paulina

Visit Ascom Network Testing at

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