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Virtualization, Automation and Network Slicing Are Increasing Focus on Network Testing

Virtualization (78%), automation (70%) and network slicing (70%) are the top technology trends increasing the need for test, monitoring and assurance stated by communications service providers (CSPs) and according to The 2021 Network Test Survey, released by VIAVI Solutions.

The past year has been a proving ground for both wired and wireless networks worldwide, with hundreds of millions of people working remotely and educating their children from home. Despite substantial increases in network traffic, today’s networks in large part met the global challenges created by the pandemic.

Study findings include:

■ 85% of respondents in the survey stated that in-person network technician visits had been reduced or eliminated as a result of the pandemic, although 78% said that the change was temporary.

■ More than 55% of service providers report a transition from instrument-based testing to remote, virtualized testing, with 7% saying the change is permanent.

■ In order to maintain quality of experience during the pandemic, at least 30% of service providers increased reliance on contractors for network quality assurance.

■ More than two-thirds (70%) of CSPs identify access network performance as the primary factor that most impacts subscriber experience, with transport network performance (41%) and core network performance (37%) also of concern.

■ An overwhelming majority of 93% in the study believe that testing improves customer satisfaction and reduces churn.

■ Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, only 22% of CSPs temporarily reduced the number of test cases performed, demonstrating the value placed on test and assurance

■ Nearly 80% of service providers agree that testing on the front end reduces the amount of operational expenditures needed to correct issues later

■ When asked about sources of test, measurement and assurance solutions, 89% of respondents agreed that vendors specializing in this area were essential to performance of the network

■ 78% strongly agree that network monitoring and assurance using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are necessary to optimize networks.

“Prior to the pandemic, service providers had begun turning to technologies like automation, AI and virtualization to control costs while improving the customer experience. The current situation has only accelerated the adoption of these advanced technologies,” said Kevin Oliver, VP and GM, Converged Instruments and Virtual Test, VIAVI. “To ensure performance of more complex, next-generation networks, service providers need advanced test and assurance solutions and automated workflows, particularly when they are increasingly relying on contractors for crucial field testing.”

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Virtualization, Automation and Network Slicing Are Increasing Focus on Network Testing

Virtualization (78%), automation (70%) and network slicing (70%) are the top technology trends increasing the need for test, monitoring and assurance stated by communications service providers (CSPs) and according to The 2021 Network Test Survey, released by VIAVI Solutions.

The past year has been a proving ground for both wired and wireless networks worldwide, with hundreds of millions of people working remotely and educating their children from home. Despite substantial increases in network traffic, today’s networks in large part met the global challenges created by the pandemic.

Study findings include:

■ 85% of respondents in the survey stated that in-person network technician visits had been reduced or eliminated as a result of the pandemic, although 78% said that the change was temporary.

■ More than 55% of service providers report a transition from instrument-based testing to remote, virtualized testing, with 7% saying the change is permanent.

■ In order to maintain quality of experience during the pandemic, at least 30% of service providers increased reliance on contractors for network quality assurance.

■ More than two-thirds (70%) of CSPs identify access network performance as the primary factor that most impacts subscriber experience, with transport network performance (41%) and core network performance (37%) also of concern.

■ An overwhelming majority of 93% in the study believe that testing improves customer satisfaction and reduces churn.

■ Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, only 22% of CSPs temporarily reduced the number of test cases performed, demonstrating the value placed on test and assurance

■ Nearly 80% of service providers agree that testing on the front end reduces the amount of operational expenditures needed to correct issues later

■ When asked about sources of test, measurement and assurance solutions, 89% of respondents agreed that vendors specializing in this area were essential to performance of the network

■ 78% strongly agree that network monitoring and assurance using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are necessary to optimize networks.

“Prior to the pandemic, service providers had begun turning to technologies like automation, AI and virtualization to control costs while improving the customer experience. The current situation has only accelerated the adoption of these advanced technologies,” said Kevin Oliver, VP and GM, Converged Instruments and Virtual Test, VIAVI. “To ensure performance of more complex, next-generation networks, service providers need advanced test and assurance solutions and automated workflows, particularly when they are increasingly relying on contractors for crucial field testing.”

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IT spending is expected to jump nearly 10% in 2025, and organizations are now facing pressure to manage costs without slowing down critical functions like observability. To meet the challenge, leaders are turning to smarter, more cost effective business strategies. Enter stage right: OpenTelemetry, the missing piece of the puzzle that is no longer just an option but rather a strategic advantage ...

Amidst the threat of cyberhacks and data breaches, companies install several security measures to keep their business safely afloat. These measures aim to protect businesses, employees, and crucial data. Yet, employees perceive them as burdensome. Frustrated with complex logins, slow access, and constant security checks, workers decide to completely bypass all security set-ups ...

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In 2025, enterprise workflows are undergoing a seismic shift. Propelled by breakthroughs in generative AI (GenAI), large language models (LLMs), and natural language processing (NLP), a new paradigm is emerging — agentic AI. This technology is not just automating tasks; it's reimagining how organizations make decisions, engage customers, and operate at scale ...

In the early days of the cloud revolution, business leaders perceived cloud services as a means of sidelining IT organizations. IT was too slow, too expensive, or incapable of supporting new technologies. With a team of developers, line of business managers could deploy new applications and services in the cloud. IT has been fighting to retake control ever since. Today, IT is back in the driver's seat, according to new research by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) ...

In today's fast-paced and increasingly complex network environments, Network Operations Centers (NOCs) are the backbone of ensuring continuous uptime, smooth service delivery, and rapid issue resolution. However, the challenges faced by NOC teams are only growing. In a recent study, 78% state network complexity has grown significantly over the last few years while 84% regularly learn about network issues from users. It is imperative we adopt a new approach to managing today's network experiences ...

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