Voice, video, data, and wireless service convergence is here and growing and, as a result, service quality matters now more than ever. By improving the efficiency of the delivery of these next-generation, IP-based services, convergence continues to enhance the way the world communicates, interacts, conducts business, and entertains. Addressing the need for consistent, end-to-end quality of service (QoS), EXFO Service Assurance (formerly Brix Networks) delivers open and extensible service assurance solutions for any IP service, over any network, to any endpoint.

Challenges for Network Service Providers

Having invested heavily in advanced infrastructures and new technologies, carriers, cable MSOs, managed service providers, and mobile operators are now offering flexible, "triple-play" services and introducing new, integrated mobile services. Together with the emergence of new service frameworks, such as IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), these bundled offerings are driving fierce competition between all service providers as they strive to meet the demands of quality-savvy consumers and demanding business clients.

The addition of new, interactive applications (VoIP, IPTV, click-to-talk, interactive gaming, etc.) creates significant QoS risks based on increased infrastructure complexity and network demands. If a provider cannot consistently deliver quality services, it will lose customers to another provider who promises — and delivers — service quality.

By using EXFO Service Assurance's solutions, providers can:

• Deliver consistent, high-quality services
• Assure the bundle
• Build customer loyalty
• Increase subscribers
• Add new services faster
• Reduce operational expenses and subscriber churn
• Gain visibility into migration from legacy to IP infrastructures
• Meet service level agreements (SLAs)