With mobile wireless service providers beginning to migrate from circuit switched technology to packet switched technology, the GPRS network architecture added two new elements, GGSN and SGSN, to the existing GSM network.

GL Communications Inc., a supplier of testing and analysis equipment for the telecommunications industry, stepped into the picture with its upgraded MAPSTM Gn Gp Interface Emulator software to help test and analyze SGSN or GGSN performance, noted officials.

The fact that SGSN plays an important role by converting mobile data into IP and connecting to the GGSN through a tunneling protocol, called GTP, made it imperative for network installers and developers to test and analyze SGSN or GGSN performance through monitoring

The software architecture of the emulator is stated to be script-based and protocol independent and that's why GL Communications (News - Alert) emulators claim to be well-positioned to provide voice band traffic analysis and emulation across all traffic types.

"GL Communication's MAPS Gn Gp Interface Emulator is an advanced protocol simulator/tester for SGSN & GGSN simulation over Gn, Gp interfaces that can simulate GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) signaling and mobile application traffic as defined in 3GPP TS 29.060,” observed Jagdish Vadalia , senior manager for product development at GL.

The interface emulator is reportedly able to simulate SGSN and GGSN, support the GTP control plane and GTP traffic, supports scripted call generation and automated call reception while providing call statistics and events status.

Further, it generates and processes GTP messages, generates controlled signaling and is stated to be capable of managing quality of service requests for lesser or greater bandwidth. In fact, the GTP User Plane Data can actually be connected to IP networks to simulate gateway testing.

Officials noted the tester supports functional testing, error tracking, regression testing, load testing/call generation and can run pre-defined test scenarios against GTP interface test objects in a controlled and deterministic manner.

Network equipment providers can benefit with an accelerated time-to-market, reduced development costs and reduced project risk of internally-developed GTP applications.

Unlike conventional test equipment, GL's test platforms provide visualization, capture, storage and convenient features like portability, remotability and scripting.

GL Communications is now selling its PacketGen-SIP bulk call generator software. Among its many attributes, PacketGen can test and analyze VoIP network equipment, as well as support some 1,000 calls at the same time, the company says.

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