Adtran announced a new cloud-based network performance testing service designed to streamline compliance testing for service providers benefiting from the Connect America Fund (CAF) as mandated by the Federal Communications Commission.

The service is an extension of the company's CAF testing offering announced in February, which was designed to run on any TR-069 compliant device including xDSL, Ethernet, DOCSIS, PON, and LTE WAN gateways.

The updated service automates much of the process right down to the testing, report generation, and even submission to the FCC.

“We developed this one-stop, fully-managed subscription service to give our customers peace of mind by offering a turn-key option that offloads the entire testing process, so they can focus on what they do best — providing a superior subscriber experience,” said Derek Foster, service portfolio manager at Adtran, in a prepared statement. The company notes that the service also has the long-term benefit of allowing service providers to monitor network performance over time.

An FCC mandate announced in July 2018, requires service providers receiving CAF funding to conduct quarterly testing beginning July 1, 2019. However, testing was later delayed until the first quarter of 2020.

Each quarter service providers must conduct speed and latency tests during peak hours at no less than 50 random customer locations. These tests must also take place during a period of two consecutive weeks. According to the FCC, the goal of the mandate is to promote greater accountability of service providers receiving CAF funds.

Announced in October 2011, the Connect America Fund was created to help service providers accelerate broadband deployment to the approximately 23 million American's who lack access to internet service capable of 10 Mb/s down and 1 Mb/s up. Failure to comply with the FCC order could result in a loss or reduction of funding.

Adtran also announced a new line of gigabit switches it claims will simplify LAN management and improve IP Phone and WiFi access point penetration.

The company's new software defined 8110 business switches — available in 8, 24, and 48 port configurations — feature enhanced power-over-Ethernet (PoE) functionality, statistic reporting, and traffic control for service level agreements. Additionally, the switches feature support for per-port and per-queue traffic shaping and policing, and traffic matching for quality of service control lists.

“Improved traffic and PoE statistics give managed service providers visibility deep into the customer network to more easily monitor and diagnose problems,” said Brian Lenahan, manager of Adtran's enterprise product line, in a prepared statement.

“Traffic shaping and expanded PoE capabilities mean that service providers can deploy an advanced switch infrastructure into more locations that require greater granularity for control and traffic shaping,” said Heidi Adams, executive director of network infrastructure research at IHS Markit, in a prepared statement.

Earlier this month, Adtran announced three new 10G-PON terminals designed to address increasing bandwidth demands, and rolled out new features for its Mosaic software-defined access suite aimed at improving network visibility in the home.