ASSIA Inc. has released DSL Expresse 2.5, an upgraded version of its flagship product designed to monitor and optimize DSL networks. The upgrade includes a trial version of ASSIA Expresse Pro, which enables technicians to monitor and troubleshoot DSL networks using smartphones and tablets.
DSL Expresse 2.5 provides overall monitoring of DSL network performance and is compatible with all standards-based DSL equipment, ASSIA says. It also will optimize the performance of the network via dynamic spectrum management (DSM) technology. For example, DSM works with vectoring to extend the reach and expand the capacity of VDSL2 networks beyond vectoring alone, says Jerome Joanny, director of product management for ASSIA. Thus, VDSL2 networks could support 100 Mbps at greater distances than the 400 m touted in recent vectoring technology announcements (see, for example, “Alcatel-Lucent offers VSDL2 vectoring to support 100-Mbps services”), he asserts.
DSM is based on the ITU-T G.ploam physical layer OAM specifications.
The tool set also includes VDSL Predictor, which carriers can use to assess how well existing copper infrastructure will support VDSL-level services. Meanwhile, Service Recommender uses network-wide performance analysis to enable operators to target customers for up-sell of high-margin services. The new version of DSL Expresse also features enhanced reporting capabilities.
Finally, ASSIA Expresse Pro is a mobile application that works with DSL Expresse 2.5 to deliver performance metrics to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The ability to use such mobile devices for metric monitoring and troubleshooting promises to save operators significant money in both reducing technician response time and obviating the need for more expensive, dedicated test equipment, Joanny says.
ASSIA DSL Expresse 2.5 is available immediately. The fully baked version of ASSIA Expresse Pro will be available next April as part of DSL Expresse 2.7.