UNH-IOL Becomes Official Test Site for G.fast

University Laboratory Launches Consortium for Evolution of Broadband Technology, Discusses Certification at BBWF

Durham, N.H., and Amsterdam, Netherlands – The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, today announced its key role in the advancement of the emerging ultra-fast broadband technology, G.fast. The UNH-IOL will serve as the world’s first and only testing laboratory for the Broadband Forum’s G.fast certification program, which was unveiled earlier today, with an initial interoperability plugfest scheduled for January 2015. The UNH-IOL is also launching a consortium dedicated to G.fast and will begin accepting companies as founding members on December 1, 2014. During this week’s Broadband World Forum at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Center in Amsterdam, the UNH-IOL is participating in the Broadband Forum’s Interoperability Pavilion; UNH-IOL Senior Engineer Lincoln Lavoie will give an educational session on the TR-069 Certification Program, another Broadband Forum certification program led by the UNH-IOL.

The end goal of the G.fast certification program is to provide service providers with assurance that customer premise equipment (CPE) and demarcation point unit (DPU) technology selected for G.fast deployments will be interoperable.

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To nurture a vibrant G.fast ecosystem and accelerate the standard’s adoption by service providers, the UNH-IOL:

• Invites qualified CPE and DPU equipment manufacturers to join the vendor-neutral G.fast Consortium as founding members.
• Includes in membership the costs of participation in the upcoming series of G.fast interoperability plugfests and certification testing.
• Will host the first G.fast chipset interoperability plugfest January 26-30, 2015.

Quote from the UNH-IOL:“The testing program will be very similar to other successful programs, such as TR-069 and Wi-Fi, that have helped ensure interoperability,” said UNH-IOL Senior Engineer Lincoln Lavoie. “The addition of G.fast to our existing portfolio of home networking testing services, which includes DSL, GPON, IPv6, TR-069 and Wi-Fi, enhances the UNH-IOL’s role as a one-stop shop for companies developing and advancing the latest broadband technologies.”

Quote from Broadband Forum:“The broadband industry expects expedited delivery of G.fast technology, and the need for robust, interoperable products is mandatory. Broadband Forum and the UNH-IOL are working together to develop a program that will deliver G.fast certified products. We are planning a series of interoperability plugfests shortly as part of the development of the test plan, which will be the basis for the certification,” said Robin Mersh, CEO of the Broadband Forum.

About the UNH-IOLFounded in 1988, the UNH-IOL provides independent, broad-based interoperability and standards conformance testing for data, telecommunications and storage networking products and technologies. Combining extensive staff experience, standards-bodies participation and a 32,000+ square foot facility, the UNH-IOL helps companies efficiently and cost effectively deliver products to the market.

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