Multi-Vendor Integrationbuilds reliability from within

Vodafone Germany utilizes its established Multi-

Vendor Test Center (MVTC) in Düsseldorf, to

ensure reliable end-to-end innovation,

performance and cost-efficiency for its network.

Throughout many of the activities in the MVTC,

Vodafone benefits from Ericsson’s experience in

Multi-Vendor Integration and Performance Testing.

Multi-Vendor Integration Case Study

VODAFONE GERMANYGermany

“Ericsson combinesexperience in multi-vendornetwork performance testing with excellent telecomsknow-how.”

Christian Tralle, Head of Reference Test Network

and Solutions, Vodafone

Foundation for successAs the leading mobile operator in Germany,Vodafone sought to gain an increasedcompetitive edge in the market. Its Multi-VendorTest Center (MVTC) plays a crucial role inensuring network and service quality forsubscribers. The center acts as a referencenetwork, providing a staged 2G and 3Genvironment in which the operator can monitornetwork performance, ensuring zero-faultproducts and minimized time-to-market. Thecenter is also able to test new developments andproducts for the operator before releasing themon the live network. The results of MVTC testingand verification informs decision-making activitythat affects the entire company.

Responding to increased complexity in thenetwork, the MVTC was established in 1996 tocreate a test environment mirroring the behaviorof the live network and forming a ‘productplatform’ for purchase decisions and trials, aswell as terminal verification for products prior tolaunch. The MVTC is used by more than 250

specialists and accommodates an average ofaround 40 test activities every day. The range ofactivity within the center includes R&D,prototyping, engineering, network integration, loadand stress, performance, functionality andconformance verification. All system technologyvendors are located on the same test floor, withfunctional reference to Vodafone’s network.

In February 2003, Ericsson was requested to assistin developing Vodafone’s end-to-end networkperformance and functionality. The MVTC teamhad suspected that bottlenecks in the testingfacility network could be going undetected and soVodafone immediately initiated a performanceimprovement project with Ericsson as part of itsoverall performance-testing program. The projectbegan with a detailed analysis of the performance

data captured, in orderto find out whether thebottlenecks actuallyexisted.

With the immediateissue dealt with, theproject team scrutinizedthe overall performancetesting process. Thisincluded establishingKey PerformanceIndicators, researchingand testing various toolsthat would generate end-

to-end traffic in the MVTC and analyzingmeasurement results. In each instance Ericssonoffered the operator access to independentconsulting and systems integration expertise.

Multi-vendor expertise Ericsson’s MVTC team recommended a selectionof new tools and strategies for using the testfacilities more cost-effectively. One of the tools

Christian Tralle,Head of Reference Test Networkand Solutions,Vodafone

put forward was Moniq, developed by Ericssonfor the intelligent end-to-end performanceevaluation of a multi-vendor mobile network.

As part of the project Ericsson also applied itsmulti-vendor systems integration expertise,leveraging the experience of the globally activeGlobal Services Delivery Center in Germany inorder to develop a series of prototype testingsolutions tailored to specific areas withinVodafone. The prototypes, which integrate withexisting test platforms, can be applied in trials toassess testing effectiveness.

Although Ericsson has a long history ofcooperation with Vodafone in Germany – havingsupplied much of its 2G and 3G infrastructure, aswell as hardware and services for the MVTC – theperformance improvement project focused onEricsson’s ability to offer independent consultingand systems integration expertise.

Dr Michael Lutterbeck, Multi-Vendor IntegrationEngineer, Ericsson, describes the challenges ofthe project: “Starting with a vague suspicion of

performance problems, we had to develop thewhole project structure, to define KPIs and testcases and to find the right tools. Analyzing amulti-vendor and multi-technology environmentrequired a broad knowledge of different areas likethe UMTS radio network and the IP world. Inaddition, we had to meet high customerexpectations within a very short time-frame.”

Partner of choiceChristian Tralle, Head of Reference Test Networkand Solutions, Vodafone, explains the choice ofEricsson as its consulting partner on this project:“As a consulting partner, Ericsson combinesexperience in multi-vendor network performancetesting with excellent telecoms know-how.Ericsson understands our needs.”

Based on such fast and accurate analysis workEricsson was contracted by Vodafone for afollow-up assignment to implement the strategiesthat were proposed, as well as consulting activityto measure general performance and proposetools for practical customer-specific prototyping.

The goal of thisprototyping was tocooperate with differentdepartments withinVodafone on possiblesolutions for effectivetailor-made performancemeasurements.Recommendations werealso made onintegrating this activityinto the existingVodafone testautomation platform.

Tanja Schmidt-Kriechbaum, Project Manager,Ericsson, sums up the success of the activity:“The goal is to support customers with extensiveexpertise in multi-vendor network performancetesting gained over many years, rather than withparticular products or set solutions. In this projectthe strength of Ericsson’s offering is thecompetence of its people. I am delighted thatVodafone views Ericsson as an ongoing systemsintegration consulting partner, offering trulyindependent advice, regardless of the networkhardware vendor.”

On-going excellenceA number of additional projects have beendeveloped from the original project due to theexcellent operational work and the level of trustVodafone has developed in Ericsson. Ericsson hasalso applied its multi-vendor systems integrationskills to develop a series of prototype testingsolutions tailored to specific areas withinVodafone. The prototypes, which integrate withexisting test platforms, can be applied in trials toassess testing effectiveness.

The MVTC has evolved not only to mirror the livenetwork, but has also become a new platform for

nodes and other items. Individuals will come tothe MVTC to see what nodes will be able toachieve in terms of the wider network. Inparticular, as part of the PerformanceImprovement Project, Ericsson’s project teamsuccessfully became Vodafone’s consultingpartner of choice, not only reacting to networkproblems, but proactively solving multi-vendorissues for the operator.

Strength and flexibilityKey factors in this success for Vodafone havebeen a solid base of technical competence, aswell as the maintenance of high visibility of activityand honesty between the companies. All of thishas been built upon a long-term relationship oftrust with Vodafone and Ericsson’s high level ofexpertise, based locally in Düsseldorf, as well ascalling on unmatchable global experience withmulti-vendor activity.

Falko Schmidt, Head of Section Test Projects,Vodafone, points out the major benefits deliveredto operations at the MVTC: “Flexibility and in-depth knowledge are the key factors in helping

my team to simulateevery test scenario, atany time, with thehighest possible qualityand cost-efficiency.”

Tanja Schmidt-Kriechbaum,Project ManagerEricsson

Falko Schmidt,Head of Section Test ProjectsVodafone

“Vodafone views Ericssonas an ongoing systemsintegration consultingpartner, offering trulyindependent advice,regardless of the networkhardware vendor.”

Tanja Schmidt-Kriechbaum,

Project Manager, Ericsson

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Ericsson ABSE-164 80 StockholmTelephone: +46 8 757 0000Email: asq.us@ericsson.comwww.ericsson.com/globalservices

HighlightsCustomer

Vodafone Germany

Challenge

To identify multi-vendor network issues more

effectively as well as develop high-quality terminal

verification tools and processes.

Ericsson Solution

Multi-Vendor Integration supported by

Business Consulting.

Customer Benefits

• Individually developed tools and prototypes

• Reliable multi-vendor test network for product

development and verification

• Improved network reliability.

Key Success Factors

• Technical multi-vendor experience and expertise

• Close cooperation with a long-term partner

• Service delivery from within Vodafone’s

test center

• Commercial awareness of Vodafone’s strategies.