The Broadband Forum has introduced its first-ever certification program, as a crucial component in its drive to develop the full potential of broadband and support the smooth broadband architecture convergence around the world. The announcement was made today at the MPLS & Ethernet World Congress in Paris.
The new Broadband Forum Certification Program is designed to verify adherence to critical IP/MPLS, broadband and digital home/business 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 Certification Program, are driven by market requirements.
Overall, the Broadband Forum Certification Program provides:
- Assurance to service providers that different vendor products conform to the Broadband Forum's globally recognized and adopted technology standards
- Cost savings to both equipment vendors and service providers by offering a single industry-approved test and certification process that significantly reduces testing time and resources
- The vehicle to expedite multi-vendor interoperability
The first certifications of the Broadband Forum Certification Program are designed to demonstrate the Forum’s commitment and dedication to advancing implementations of compliant MPLS based solutions and services.
Initially piloted in the IP/MPLS Forum prior to their Broadband Forum union, the certification program currently includes three MPLS Certifications: circuit emulation services (time division multiplexing); ATM; and IP & Ethernet (coming soon).
There is now open enrollment for Broadband Forum members in this certification program. Alcatel-Lucent, Axerra, Cisco, Huawei and Juniper have already participated and their products have passed the BBF.248 test suite.
