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Conformance
and Interoperability
Conformance testing
measures how accurately a product implements a technical specification.
The degree of compliance helps vendors and users of the equipment to
evaluate how the equipment will perform in the network where it will
integrate with other network devices to provide an offered network
service. Interoperability testing measures if two or more products
correctly implement the technical specifications necessary to ensure
successful integration supporting particular communication protocols.
Conformance and interoperability testing is important to identify the
non-compliance aspects of the equipment being tested, as defined by
accepted standards in the industry, that may interfere in the quality of
the network service being provided. High quality performing products
available for commercial use will accelerate widespread deployment of
the network technologies and their associated network services.
Capacity
building activities in the regions will disseminate awareness about
conformity and interoperability and will highly contribute to reduce the
digital divide and standardization gap in developing countries
especially introducing new technologies.
Conformance and interoperability testing is necessary to reduce the
probability of errors being introduced during the network integration
period, which can impact commercial deployment schedules. Besides the
financial costs associated with the resources required to support an
extended deployment schedule, other costs may manifest in lost market
share or of customers experiencing the impact of poorly tested services.
Many
service providers will require proof of compliance before accepting a
product into its network. By taking a proactive approach, equipment
manufacturers have the opportunity to any correct non-compliances, and
improve the marketability of the product.
Capacity Building: ITU is implementing human resources capacity
building in the regions on conformity, interoperability and testing and
will also be organized in cooperation with other relevant regional and
international organizations to clarify fundamental aspects as
accreditation, certification, mutual recognition agreeements and to
explore the possibility to establish test centers in developing
countries.
Establishment of Test Centers: This activity is intended to
facilitate the establishment of regional or sub regional conformity and
interoperability test centers and to encourage Mutual Recognition
Agreements/Arrangements as appropriate. Guidelines have been prepared by
the BDT in this aim and will provide basic elements to establish a
strategy to establish test centers, including technical, human and
instrumental resources, international standards and financial issues. |
