Acterna, a provider of test systems for broadband communications, today unveiled its ONT-506 portable test system for handling of voice, data and video traffic over SONET/SDH networks. The ONT-506 enables testing under realistic load conditions from the desktop or in the field with one compact chassis. It is being exhibited this week at OFC/NFOEC and at CeBIT 2005, in Hannover, Germany. "Next-generation SONET/SDH devices are highly integrated platforms and provide very high port density and port counts as well as the ability to support multiple SONET/SDH rings," Acterna said. "These devices are much more complex than legacy SONET/SDH equipment and create new challenges for the design of appropriate test procedures. In addition, next-generation devices integrate new technologies like LAN interfaces and services like Ethernet private leased lines." It said the ONT-506 helps address these challenges by bringing increased flexibility and versatility to the Acterna ONT line of optical network testers, which includes the portable four-port ONT-50 and the 12-port rack-mountable ONT-512. With the ONT-506, design, verification, integration and production test engineers of multiservice provisioning platforms (MSPPs), cross connects, ADMs and next-generation network elements are able to measure the performance of thousands of channels simultaneously, minimizing the performance risk associated with relying on a single test channel. The ONT-506 supports a wide variety of test applications and technologies, including SONET/SDH, G.709 FEC, VCAT/LCAS/GFP, Ethernet, PoS, jitter, wander and OSA. For users of the multichannel option, the ONT-506 enables testing and verification of next-generation SONET/SDH devices by measuring the performance of thousands of channels simultaneously, minimizing the performance risk associated with relying on a single test channel. The ONT-506 has a 15-inch color touch screen display and multiuser capability, along with multiple ports, allowing for local and remote control, and six slots for easy upgrades and reconfiguration in the field or lab. Acterna said the ONT-506 also addresses research and development requirements of network manufacturers and operators with its multiple channel and port-test application.