Spirent Press Releases

Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2009

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

London, UK – 4 March 2010: Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, today announces its preliminary results for the financial year ended 31 December 2009.

Highlights

Revenue grew by 6 per cent to £272.1 million (2008: £257.9 million); at constant currencies revenue was down 10 per cent, with signs of recovery in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Operating profit ahead of expectations up 14 per cent; at constant currencies down 6 per cent.
Further increases in gross profit margin to 66.3 per cent and in operating margin to 20.3 per cent.
Adjusted basic earnings per share up 11 per cent at 6.91 pence (2008: 6.24 pence) after charging 0.20 pence (2008: 0.30 pence) for share-based payment and acquired intangible amortisation.
Strong cash flows resulted in cash and cash equivalents of £108.0 million at 31 December 2009 (31 December 2008: £59.7 million).
Order intake growth in the fourth quarter was strong as book to bill ratio reached 129.
Final dividend up 10 per cent to 0.66 pence per share (2008: 0.60 pence).
Spirent released more new and innovative solutions to the market in 2009 than ever before.

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“Despite the challenging macro economic environment in 2009, as the year progressed operating conditions improved noticeably, and customers began to move from cost saving to investing for the future. The alignment of our solutions portfolio with customers’ areas of investment drove increased order activity in the second half of the year. These improved conditions meant that the fourth quarter saw bookings exceeding sales by 29 per cent.

“This recovery makes us optimistic for the coming year. We will continue to manage costs thoughtfully as the economy recovers. Our goal is to outpace the market recovery and grow market share with the key objective of top-line growth that will drive increased profitability. We have seen a solid start to 2010 and we aim to continue this positive momentum as the year progresses.”

Results summary

£ million	2009	2008	Change (%)	Change at constant currency³ (%)
Revenue	272.1	257.9	6	(10)
Operating profit	55.3	48.7	14	(6)
Profit before tax	54.1	49.6	9
Basic earnings per share (pence)	8.71	10.13	(14)
Adjusted basic earnings¹ per share (pence)	6.91	6.24	11
Total dividend per share (pence)	1.21	1.10	10
Free cash flow²	55.1	42.2	31

Notes
1 Adjusted basic earnings per share is based on adjusted earnings as set out in note 6 of Notes to the preliminary consolidated financial statements.
2 Operating cash flow after tax, net interest and net capital expenditure.
3 Change at constant currencies eliminating the effects of fluctuating exchange rates on the translation of operating results and on transactions.

Enquiries

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

The Company will host a results presentation today at 9.15am for 9.30am UK time at RBS, 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA. A simultaneous webcast of the presentation will be available in the Investors section of the Spirent Communications plc website www.spirent.com.

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a global leader in test and measurement inspiring innovation within development labs, communication networks and IT organisations. We enable today’s communication ecosystem as well as tomorrow’s emerging enterprises to deploy life-enriching communications networks, devices, services and applications. The Systems group develops power control systems for electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to report that Spirent’s adjusted earnings per share increased by 11 per cent in 2009 to 6.91 pence, which excludes a non-recurring net tax benefit of 1.80 pence per share and is after charging 0.20 pence in respect of share-based payment and acquired intangible amortisation. Earnings benefited from an increase in operating profit of £6.6 million, an improvement of 14 per cent, but this was partially offset by an increase in the rate of tax charged for the year.

These results reflect the trend of improvement seen in the past several years as the Company’s management team implements its strategic plan and effectively deploys resources. An increase in gross profit margin and careful cost control improved the operating profit margin to 20 per cent for the Group as a whole. In our largest business, Performance Analysis, the operating profit margin increased to 25 per cent, market share increased, and our new product portfolio is well aligned with the segments of the market that we expect will exhibit the fastest growth.

In the fourth quarter of 2009 market conditions improved noticeably, resulting in bookings exceeding sales by 29 per cent for the period, whereas bookings were somewhat lower than sales for the first three quarters of the year. Accordingly, we expect a positive start to 2010.

The Group’s financial position remains strong with cash generation for 2009 that exceeded earnings excluding the effect of the non-recurring tax benefit. In these circumstances the Board is recommending a final dividend of 0.66 pence per share compared with 0.60 pence per share in 2008.

Gerard Eastman who joined the Board in 2006 is retiring at the Annual General Meeting and the Board would like to express its thanks for his many thoughtful contributions. I will also retire from the Board at the Annual General Meeting and I am resigning as Chairman with effect from 4 March 2010.

The Board has appointed Alex Walker, who has been a director since 2006, to be Chairman. With the continuing participation of Alex, the other non-executive board members, and the management team led by Bill Burns I have every confidence that the Company is in the best possible hands. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of my colleagues at Spirent, with whom it is a great privilege to have been associated.

Chief Executive Officer's Statement

Over the last several years, we have seen significant change across the communications industry. Large and small enterprises, as well as consumers, are now demanding anytime, anywhere, always-on internet access with increased levels of Quality of Experience from the numerous applications they use everyday. New mobile devices are driving the need for faster wireless networks such as LTE, while downloadable applications are increasing both revenue and customer loyalty. Examples include the extraordinary growth in smartphone usage, the introduction of affordable netbook and tablet devices and the download of billions of applications from online stores.

Service providers have shifted their focus to address the ever-increasing demand for wireless access, applications delivery and new enterprise offerings such as cloud computing. To meet these growing demands, service providers must manage an increased level of complexity driven by the integration of legacy wireline, next-generation wireless and outsourced Content Delivery Networks. Equipment manufacturers have responded by moving resources to growth markets such as smartphones, higher speed wireless networks and the evolution of enterprise data centers with Ethernet as the transport technology of choice. As a market leader in communications test and measurement all of these areas represent significant opportunities for Spirent.

We have transformed the business in a number of key areas to capitalise on these changing market conditions. We have rationalised the organisational structure, consolidated the supply chain and concentrated on driving cost out of all aspects of the business. We closely monitor the trends in our industry, strategically reallocating our resources to address growing and emerging markets. Currently, Spirent is delivering the industry’s most innovative solutions in Ethernet, wireless, applications and security testing - the areas that matter most to service providers and equipment manufacturers. The breadth and depth of our solutions portfolio, combined with our global reach, make Spirent uniquely positioned to address the changing needs of the communications test and measurement market.

Through this transformation, we have revitalised Spirent’s strategy prioritising innovation, time to market and, most importantly, profitable growth. In 2009, we released more new and innovative solutions to the market than at any time in our history. Examples include the introduction of test solutions for 10 / 40 / 100 Gigabit Ethernet, virtualization inside the data center, and LTE devices and infrastructure, that have expanded our market leadership within test and measurement.

Our customers along with several of the industry’s largest publications, conferences and research firms, Frost & Sullivan, Interop and Fortune among others, have recognised our accomplishments with a variety of awards. Our market leadership, new product innovation, commitment to excellence and service to customers has resulted in a strong 2009 financial performance. Throughout the year, we gained market share and outperformed our competitors in revenue and profitability.

Despite the challenging macro economic environment in 2009, as the year progressed operating conditions improved noticeably, and customers began to move from cost saving to investing for the future. The alignment of our solutions portfolio with customers’ areas of investment drove increased order activity in the second half of the year. These improved conditions meant that the fourth quarter saw bookings exceeding sales by 29 per cent.

This recovery makes us optimistic for the coming year. We will continue to manage costs thoughtfully as the economy recovers. Our goal is to outpace the market recovery and grow market share with the key objective of top-line growth that will drive increased profitability. We have seen a solid start to 2010 and we aim to continue this positive momentum as the year progresses.

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Mobile Operators Discover The Full Potential of Ethernet with Spirent's New Testing & Monitoring Solution

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Industry's first Integrated 1 GigE/10 GigE Testing, Diagnostics and Performance Monitoring Solution for Live Networks Drives Down Capital and Operational Expenses

Sunnyvale, Calif. - February 15, 2010 – Spirent Communications plc., a leader in networks, devices and services testing, today introduced Spirent TestCenter Live, the industry's first integrated 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) live network test, diagnostics and performance monitoring solution. Deployed by several providers including a leading North American 4G wireless operator, Spirent TestCenter Live reduces operational costs, increases service quality levels of the Ethernet backhaul and helps deploy services to market faster.

To handle the explosion of high bandwidth application traffic expected to result from 3G/4G enable devices, mobile operators are migrating their backhaul networks from legacy TDM to high speed Ethernet. While operators leverage the operational and cost benefits of Ethernet, they also have to ensure that service quality in the Ethernet backhaul goes beyond “best effort.” With Spirent TestCenter Live, mobile operators can remove the guess work out of troubleshooting Ethernet and realize the full potential of Ethernet as an easy to use, cost effective, flexible and scalable network technology.

“Spirent was first to recognize and deliver a solution that directly addressed the complexities of migrating to Ethernet in mobile backhaul,” said John Cunningham, vice president of Service Assurance at Spirent. “With Spirent TestCenter Live, testing becomes a competitive advantage for network operators enabling them to maintain backhaul network SLAs, ensure applications performance, as well as quickly activate and provision new services.”

Spirent TestCenter Live provides simultaneous on-demand testing and proactive, 24x7 performance monitoring on a single probe. Alternative solutions require multiple probes, multiple vendors or multiple OSS to achieve the same visibility Spirent TestCenter Live delivers. In the end, with Spirent’s approach service providers benefit from a huge reduction in total cost of ownership, and continued operational efficiency over the service lifecycle.

The live probes with test & diagnostics and performance monitoring interfaces have been specifically designed to maximize cost efficiencies across multiple user groups within the service provider organization. Spirent TestCenter Live can also serve the testing & monitoring requirements of Telcos and Multi System Operators (MSO).

Spirent TestCenter Live reduces technician dispatches and enables the proliferation of Ethernet backhaul circuits without an equivalent increase in staffing. Furthermore, the solution is 40/100GigE ready; supporting the 1/10GigE networks of today, while being prepared to handle the higher speeds of tomorrow.

Spirent TestCenter Live will be on display on Spirent booth#1C14 at Mobile World Congress 2010, February 15 -18. To learn more about how mobile operators can remove the guess work in testing and monitoring the Ethernet network visit http://www.spirent.com/Campaign-Folder/stclive.aspx.

Spirent Landslide Nominated for Global Mobile Award for Technology Advancements to Mobile Network Infrastructure

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent Advances LTE Infrastructure Deployments by Putting the Promise of LTE to the Test

Sunnyvale, Calif. - February 15, 2010 – Spirent Communications plc., today announced that Spirent Landslide Mobile Packet Performance Test Systems has been nominated for the prestigious GSMA Global Mobile Award in the Best Network Technology Advance category. Spirent's role in enhancing network quality, performance and driving cost reductions in LTE network deployments is the primary reason for its selection as one of the finalist in this year's award.

“Spirent has a strong history of testing multiple generations of mobile technology and now enables operators to successfully deliver on the promise of LTE.” said Jeff Schmitz, vice president of marketing at Spirent. “We are honored that GSMA has recognized our contributions and commitments to the mobile industry.”

Spirent Landslide, which also received the 2009 4GWE LTE Visionary Award and 4G 2009 Wireless Product of the Year Award for its innovation and technology leadership, is the most comprehensive end-to-end test system for mobile packet core testing. Spirent Landslide provides test coverage not only for new LTE deployments, but also validates performance of existing technologies such as WiMAX, UMTS, GPRS and CDMA2000. This diverse support enables network operators to meet the aggressive time to market commitments and proposed profitability objectives of LTE by understanding its performance in a multi-technology environment.

Used by Tier 1 LTE network infrastructure vendors working toward 2010 commercial LTE launches, Spirent Landslide enables mobile operators to meet time-to-market commitments, improve service quality and reduce operational expenses resulting in higher end-user satisfaction and increased profitability.

To learn more about how to put the promise of LTE to the test and Spirent Landslide visit http://www.spirent.com/Wireless/LTE_ecosystem.aspx

Spirent and EANTC Collaborate To Demonstrate Interoperability and Performance of Latest Advances in MPLS and Carrier Ethernet

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter Leveraged for Performance Testing at Industry's Largest MPLS and Carrier Ethernet Interoperability Event

Sunnyvale, Calif. - February 12, 2010 – Spirent Communications plc, the global leader in Ethernet networks, device and services testing, today announced that it collaborated with EANTC for interoperability testing of MPLS and Ethernet across the backhaul, transport and access networks. This multi-vendor interop event, displayed at MPLS Ethernet World Congress 2010 in Paris , leveraged Spirent's expertise in application realism and performance testing.

EANTC is dedicated to proving that technologies such as the MPLS and Carrier Ethernet work through public demonstrations,” said Carsten Rossenhoevel, managing director of EANTC. “Spirent has been a testing partner and active participant in the Carrier Ethernet events and its latest generation of test solutions made it possible to test interoperability of important features and use cases of MPLS.”

The interop test used Spirent TestCenter ™, the award winning integrated layer 2-7 test system, along with the Spirent xGEM. Together they supported several key test cases including IP/MPLS Multicast services, PBB VPLS internetworking, IPv6 BGP/MPLS VPNs, performance monitoring loss and delay using Y.1731, and the generation and impairment of video traffic. Spirent TestCenter is the most flexible, scalable and reliable test system in the industry for testing highly-integrated, converged, MPLS networks of today and tomorrow.

“Spirent is focused on advancing critical networking technologies such as MPLS and Carrier Ethernet,” said Michael Lynge, Corporate Marketing Manager at Spirent. “By participating in these events with a leading lab like EANTC, Spirent helps prove system vendors' solutions are ready for deployment.”

For more information on Spirent's role is large scale public tests visit http://www.spirent.com/Planet-Spirent.aspx

About EANTC
The European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) offers vendor-neutral consultancy and test facilities for network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprise customers. Primary business areas include interoperability, conformance, and performance testing for Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, and Triple Play technologies and applications. For more information visit http://www.eantc.com

Signals Research Leverages Spirent Test System to Reveal Important Performance Differences between HSPA+ Chipsets and Devices

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent 8100 System Used to Provide the Industry's Most Comprehensive Look at HSPA+ Chipset and Device Performance

OAKLAND, Calif. and SUNNYVALE, Calif. – February 11, 2010 – Signals Research Group, LLC (SRG) and Spirent Communications plc, today announced the industry’s first independent data throughput performance benchmark of HSPA+ chipsets, as well as HSPA chipsets and devices capable of data rates higher than 7.2 Mbps. The Spirent 8100 Mobile Device Test System was used to identify the top performing chipsets and to quantify performance differences between higher-category devices under real-world network conditions - differences which affect subscriber quality of experience (QoE) and network operator costs.

Participants in this test included all leading wireless IC suppliers, several of whom submitted solutions for multiple categories. The range of solutions tested reflects the growing diversity of the HSPA/HSPA+ device ecosystem, which now includes support for Categories 14 (up to 21.1 Mbps on the downlink), 10 (14.4 Mbps), 9 (10.1 Mbps), as well as Category 8 (7.2 Mbps).

“Analysis of the data revealed significant differences in the data performance of HSPA+ and higher-category HSPA chipsets” said Michael Thelander, CEO, SRG. “The results clearly illustrate the value in testing chipset and device performance beyond minimum certification requirements, particularly at these higher data rates.”

SRG’s test plan used the Spirent 8100 to subject all chipsets and devices to identical sets of network conditions, automatically repeating each test multiple times to generate statistically-significant, objective results for downlink data throughput performance. The test scenarios, based on test specifications from the 3GPP, include various static conditions as well as industry-standard pedestrian fading and vehicular fading conditions.

This represents the fourth collaboration between SRG and Spirent on what has become the industry benchmark for independent 3G chipset performance testing. Planning is underway for a future report that will again use the Spirent 8100 to conduct data performance testing of LTE chipsets, as well as chipsets with advanced receiver designs, such as Type 3i.

The complete HSPA/HSPA+ chipset and device performance benchmark report will be available in early March in an issue of the SRG newsletter. To learn more visit www.signalsresearch.com.

Spirent is demonstrating its 8100 UMTS test system in stand 1C14 at Mobile World Congress, February 15-18 in Barcelona, Spain. To learn more about the 8100 and other Spirent solutions for UMTS and LTE device testing visit http://www.spirent.com/Wireless/UMTS_devices/8100.aspx.

About Signals Research Group, LLC

Signals Research Group, LLC is a US-based research consultancy that is focused on technology and operator business case analyses for the wireless industry. In addition to providing consulting services for its clients, SRG publishes a research product called Signals Ahead with a distribution list that spans five continents and the entire wireless ecosystem, including the largest mobile operators, the major infrastructure suppliers, leading handset manufacturers and semiconductor IC suppliers, mobile content providers, as well as financial institutions. SRG recently published an exhaustive 1,000 page next-generation network economics study which analyzed the network economic implications of several next-generation network technologies (EV-DO Rev B, HSPA/HSPA+, Mobile WiMAX, LTE) across sixty-five countries and under a wide-range of deployment scenarios, including full mobility, nomadic, semi-fixed and fixed. More information about SRG, including contact information, can be found at its website: www.signalsresearch.com.

Spirent’s Device Testing Solutions Help Mobile Operators Deliver on the Promise of LTE

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent 8100 Delivers Comprehensive Device Testing to Ensure LTE Services Meet the Expectations of Tomorrow’s Demanding Wireless Users

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – February 9, 2010 – As the wireless industry steps up its efforts to roll out LTE networks and services, Spirent Communications, the global leader wireless testing, today announced that leading mobile operators and their LTE device providers are already using the Spirent 8100 Mobile Device Test System to help minimize LTE device and service performances issues. The Spirent 8100 helps to control operators’ operational expenses and maximize revenues from new LTE services by offering performance testing of LTE and multi-mode (LTE with CDMA and/or UMTS) mobile devices on a single platform. Comprehensive standards-based conformance testing of LTE devices is also enabled on the same system through Spirent’s partnership with AT4 wireless.

Early LTE deployments will need to coexist with legacy networks such as CDMA/EV-DO (with eHRPD) or HSPA for many years and users will expect seamless mobility across technologies and networks. The device’s conformance to stringent operator standards, data throughput performance, and ability to quickly and correctly select the appropriate network system on power-on are other important criteria that can impact end-users.

“Since the move to LTE will impact all aspects of wireless service, including device and chipset design and the network infrastructure, service providers want to ensure that there are no hidden surprises when their LTE network goes live” said Rob VanBrunt, vice president of Wireless at Spirent. “By employing important lessons learned from past generational advances in wireless technology, the Spirent 8100 helps to reduce risks inherent in early LTE deployments.”

Spirent puts the promise of LTE to the test, helping to ensure profitable, high performance and reliable networks, devices and services. The 8100 solution’s powerful, highly-configurable Spirent E2010S Network Emulator, developed under Spirent’s partnership with AT4 wireless, integrates with Spirent’s CDMA/EV-DO and UMTS network emulation to seamlessly reproduce real-world system and network scenarios in the lab, yielding consistent and repeatable test results. The power of the E2010S also enables standards-based LTE device conformance test cases from AT4 wireless, covering RF, Protocol and Radio Resource Management (RRM), to be run on the same 8100 test system.

The Spirent 8100 features unique capabilities such as powerful enhanced packet core (EPC) emulation for simultaneous support of multi-technology (LTE, CDMA/EV-DO, UMTS), multi-cell networks. This enables the broadest possible test coverage of LTE multi-mode device performance, including RF/MIMO, multi-mode system determination, data throughput and more. LTE test capabilities are also available as a cost-effective upgrade to existing Spirent CDMA/EV-DO and UMTS/HSPA device test systems.

To learn more about Spirent 8100 and other solution for LTE testing visit http://www.spirent.com/Wireless/LTE_ecosystem.aspx.

Verizon Wireless Chooses Spirent To Provide Testing Solutions For The Certification Of LTE Devices

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Basking Ridge, NJ, and Sunnyvale, CA – Verizon Wireless announced today that the company has selected Spirent Communications as a provider of testing solutions for the certification of devices that will operate on the nationwide 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network that Verizon Wireless is building on the Upper 700 MHz C-Block spectrum. Spirent solutions include hardware, test simulators, system simulators and software for test automation. Any organization considering offering devices on the upcoming Verizon Wireless LTE network can use these tools in preparation for device certification by independent labs.

Today’s announcement expands on the two companies’ existing relationship for testing devices and services. While Spirent is the first company selected by Verizon Wireless for providing approved LTE test equipment, Verizon Wireless expects to announce additional testing solutions.

To learn more about Spirent Communications’ LTE testing solutions, visit http://www.spirent.com/wireless/lte_ecosystem.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE wireless network.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications plc. (LSE: SPT), a global leader in test & measurement, inspires innovation within development labs, networks and IT organizations to enable customers to deploy communications networks, services & applications, and devices that enrich life. Our extensive portfolio of solutions test data centers, high speed Ethernet networks and services, 3G/4G wireless networks and devices, network security, and global navigation satellite systems. With solutions used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprise and governments rely daily on Spirent to help ensure their success. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,300 employees worldwide. For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx.

Spirent Drives Better LBS Performance with Industry’s First A-GLONASS Test Solution for Mobile Devices

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Automated Test Solution Validates Performance of Both A-GLONASS and A-GPS Technologies in Mobile Devices

Sunnyvale, Calif. - (January 12, 2010) — Continuing on its path of innovation in LBS performance testing, Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in wireless networks, devices and services testing solutions, today introduced the industry’s first solution to test Assisted GLONASS (A-GLONASS) capability on UMTS mobile devices and chipsets. Supported on Spirent’s 8100 UMTS Location Technology Solution (ULTS), the new A-GLONASS testing capability gives early adopters of A-GLONASS a competitive edge by enabling the delivery of better-performing devices and improved user experiences.

“As the industry prepares to leverage the benefits of A-GLONASS and adds this technology to LBS-enabled devices, effective verification and performance testing become critical,” said Hesham ElHamahmy, vice president and market segment leader for Wireless solutions at Spirent. “Since we are already a leader in GLONASS simulation and A-GPS enabled device testing, performance testing of A-GLONASS enabled devices is natural extension of Spirent’s expertise.”

The addition of A-GLONASS to the list of available LBS enabling technologies such as GPS is set to make a major impact on mobile device positioning in 2010 and beyond. GLONASS is a Russian navigation satellite system with recently-formalized open civilian access. Using both GPS and GLONASS offers a mobile device receiver almost twice the number of usable satellites in the sky compared with GPS alone. This can significantly improve the performance of location-based applications in challenging environments such as urban streets, where much of the sky can be obstructed and multiple signal reflections from tall buildings can confuse satellite receivers. Providing assistance data over the cellular network (A-GLONASS) further improves the speed and reliability of position fixes, in the same way as A-GPS.

A-GLONASS device testing on the 8100 ULTS is built upon the expertise gained from Spirent’s PLTS, which was introduced into the CDMA market in 2001 and ULTS, the first commercially-available UMTS A-GPS test system. Since then, most of the world’s largest network operators, together with all the major mobile device and A-GPS chipset manufacturers, have relied on the Spirent 8100 ULTS for design, test and certification of their LBS solutions.

To learn more about the LBS performance testing visit http://www.spirent.com/Wireless/Location_testing.aspx

Buckeye CableSystem Selects Spirent’s In-Home MoCA Testing Solution

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent Tech-X Flex is the Industry’s First and only MoCA-certified Field Test Tool

Sunnyvale, Calif. - (December 17, 2009) — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in network, services and device testing, today announced that Buckeye CableSystem, a regional cable operator servicing northern Ohio and southeast Michigan, selected Spirent’s Tech-X Flex for testing its Multimedia over Coaxial (MoCA) in-home networks and DVR sharing application. Spirent’s market leading in-home tester allows Buckeye to establish and retain customer loyalty while increasing revenue potential by isolating and drilling down to the root causes of MoCA-related service calls.

Advanced video services, including DVR sharing and other multimedia sharing applications delivered over a MoCA based in-home network offer multiple system operators (MSOs) an important competitive edge. However, support costs incurred as a result of quality and performance issues in the home can significantly affect the profitability of MoCA deployments.

“We realized quickly that to successfully deliver DVR sharing over a MoCA network, we needed to equip the technicians with new tools to ensure the service is turned up and managed to meet customer expectations, yet still keep operational costs of troubleshooting in check” said Jim Wolsiffer Director of Technical Operations of Buckeye CableSystem. “Spirent allows us to quickly validate the service performance and pinpoint the root cause of any service affecting issue.”

Tech-X Flex is the only available Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance certified field test tool enabling technicians to efficiently resolve problems occurring inside the home. With Tech-X Flex, cable operators are now able to offer subscribers advanced video services and reduce the operational impact of managing the service.

“Today, technicians revert to replacing routers or set-top boxes and even run new coaxial cable in efforts to resolve in-home MoCA related problems,” said Sean Yarborough, Spirent’s director of strategy and business development. “With Tech-X Flex MSOs can avoid this extremely costly hit-or-miss approach that more often results in repeat dispatches and reduced customer satisfaction.”

Recently, the SCTE in partnership with Spirent released an implication paper titled “Deploying Enhanced Media Services with MoCA” as part of their ongoing efforts to inform and educate their SCTE membership on the requirements and challenges that surround this deployment.

To learn more download the latest application note on installation and maintenance of MoCA and DVR. For more information of Spirent Tech-X Flex visit http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/OSP_and_InHomeTesting/Tech-X-Flex/Tech-X_Flex-MoCA.aspx

About Buckeye CableSystem

Buckeye Cablevision, Inc., is the largest cable firm operating in the Toledo area, with more than 150,000 customers in Toledo and Sandusky. It is the 23rd largest cable operator in the United States. It was founded in 1965 and is the second oldest continuously-owned large-city cable system in the US.

Buckeye CableSystem,® as the firm is known for marketing purposes, offers 70 Standard Service channels and more than 300 Digital channels including 50 high-definition channels; 56 commercial-free digital music channels; 56 multiplexed digital premium channels including 4 high-definition premium channels; pay-per-view, Video-On-Demand, and Digital Video Recorders. Buckeye CableSystem also offers a tiered high-speed cable modem Internet product with speeds up to 20 mb, a dial-up Internet product, a Wireless Internet product, and residential telephone service. In addition, it maintains more than 2,200 miles of fiber optic and more than 2,100 miles of coaxial cable plant.

It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Block Communications, Inc. Block Communications is a holding company which also owns Buckeye TeleSystem, a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier; The Blade of Toledo and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, both daily newspapers; Erie County Cablevision, Inc., in Ohio, and broadcast television stations in Lima, OH, Louisville, KY, Springfield/Decatur, IL, and Boise, ID. Block also owns Metro Fiber & Cable Construction Co., also headquartered in Toledo.

Block Communications, with headquarters in Toledo, is a family-owned company tracing its roots to a firm founded in 1900 by the late Paul Block, Sr. Today it is controlled by the third and fourth generations of the family, heirs of his late sons, Paul, Jr., and William Block, Sr.

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Enhances Data Center Performance Benchmarking with New Fibre Channel Test Module

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

New Spirent HyperMetrics 2/4/8Gb Fiber Channel Test Module Advances Holistic Data Center Testing

Sunnyvale, Calif. - (November 17, 2009) — Responding to the performance demands of dynamic, terabit-capacity data centers, Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the global leader in enterprise network testing, today introduced the Spirent HyperMetrics 2/4/8Gb Fibre Channel test module. By leveraging a holistic, unified test system, data center operators, network equipment vendors and system integrators can test every aspect of tomorrow’s converged networks pre and post deployment.

“With data center applications pushing the need for greater and faster storage while increasing connectivity efficiencies, it’s vital to test the performance of new converged FCoE and native Fibre Channel networks and switches,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Converged Core Solutions group, Spirent Communications. “Spirent has been pioneer in Fibre Channel testing for more than a decade and is now driving a new set of benchmarking methodologies to meet the requirements of a new generation of data center implementations.”

The 2/4/8 Gigabit HyperMetrics Fibre Channel test module enables developers and IT managers to understand performance at true data center scale and identifies issues before they impact the live network. In conjunction with Spirent HyperMetrics 10GbE Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) test module, the Fibre Channel solution delivers the industry’s first layer 2-7 converged data center performance benchmarking test system. Together, they reduce the total cost of ownership by eliminating the complexity of multiple systems and significantly shorten the learning curve.

The HyperMetrics Fibre Chanel module is specifically designed to:

Give engineers a complete picture of the end-to-end performance across the Fibre Channel to FCoE boundary;
Compare FCoE versus native Fibre Channel data center network performance;
Measure and validate low latency performance required by data storage applications from FCoE to FC and FC to FCoE at various rates up to the throughput limit; and
Validate lossless data transfers under congestion between FCoE per Priority Flow Control (PFC) and Fibre Channel buffer and credit mechanisms.

For more information on HyperMetrics Fibre Channel test module and converged data center testing visit http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/Enterprise_networks.aspx

About Spirent Communications plc

For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

Spirent Communications plc, Interim Management Statement (Unaudited)

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

London, UK – 5 November 2009: Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, announces the following unaudited Interim Management Statement for the period since 28 June 2009.

Trading to Date

Trading performance for the period since 28 June 2009 to date is in line with the Board’s expectations.

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"During the third quarter we have seen a return to market stability and we have increased profitability. The outlook for the fourth quarter is positive. We continue to deliver new, innovative, market leading test solutions and as a result Spirent is well placed to capitalise on any recovery in end markets in 2010."

Third Quarter 2009

The results for the third quarter of 2009 are set out below:

£ million	3rd quarter 2009	3rd quarter 2008
Revenue	63.1	68.3
Operating profit	13.6	11.7
Basic earnings per share - pence	1.69	1.53

Note
Earnings include a charge of 0.05 pence per share for share-based payment and amortisation of intangible assets (3rd quarter 2008: 0.07 pence).

Third quarter revenue of £63.1 million was in line with our revenue projections. Group operating profit grew by £1.9 million to £13.6 million, as a result return on sales for the Group increased to 22 per cent compared to 18 per cent in the third quarter of 2008. Earnings per share grew by 10 per cent.

Year to date revenue is up 9 per cent in sterling terms to £202.2 million, down by 12 per cent in constant currencies. Operating profit increased by 15 per cent in sterling to £37.6 million, down by 13 per cent in constant currencies.

Performance Analysis

Year to date return on sales for Performance Analysis has increased to 23 per cent compared to 22 per cent, on a revenue decrease of 13 per cent in dollar terms. More importantly, we have now experienced three consecutive quarters of increased order intake and the book to bill ratio at 1.00 times for the quarter allowed us to maintain a solid order book.

Stability returned to the market in the third quarter, with signs of a somewhat more optimistic view by customers. Customers increased their spending on applications and data center test capabilities, whilst investment in mobile packet core test grew markedly. Wireless device performance test benefited from the growth in development of new wireless data devices such as Smartphones. The market for 4G wireless (“LTE”) testing is beginning to accelerate; this has also stimulated investment in existing technologies, such as CDMA and UMTS, with the development of new data devices capable of supporting all these technologies. This is positive for future expansion in the wireless test market, in which Spirent is well placed with its wide range of product solutions.

Product mix was favourable in the quarter resulting in an increased gross profit margin, whilst overheads reduced compared to the prior year.

Service Assurance

Profitability for the third quarter of 2009 increased to a 20 per cent operating return on sales compared to 10 per cent for the third quarter of 2008. Gross profit margin has improved and overheads have been reduced.

There is strong demand for 10 GbE in network monitoring devices, increasing demand for monitoring in wireless backhaul networks and interest in the latest generation of hand held test equipment. Whilst legacy revenues are down year-on-year, masking growth in new products and services, the fundamental direction for the division is sound.

Systems

Profitability has been maintained in difficult market conditions. This is especially true in the market for motor controllers for use in industrial equipment, where there are signs that the industrial business is starting to recover.

Cash

Free cash flow for the quarter was £12.2 million (3rd quarter 2008: £9.3 million). In the quarter the 2009 interim dividend of £3.7 million was paid and there was an inflow of £1.3 million from the exercise of share incentives. The closing cash position at the end of the third quarter was £91.3 million compared with £80.5 million at the end of the first half of 2009.

Outlook

Markets appear to have stabilised during the third quarter which will allow Spirent to continue to deliver on expected performance. The prospects for the fourth quarter are good, especially in wireless device performance test.

- ends -

Enquiries

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of testing and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as Ethernet, Triple Play, wireless, satellite positioning, web applications and security. The Systems group develops power control systems for electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Download full press release [PDF 83KB]

Spirent Communications Advances Carrier Ethernet Networks and Services Testing at Carrier Ethernet World Congress

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ Enables Interoperability Testing of Carrier Ethernet in Real-World Network Environments

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, advances Carrier Ethernet networks and services by supporting the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) Interoperability Showcase at Carrier Ethernet World Congress 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Spirent, with its award-winning Spirent TestCenter™ platform collaborated with EANTC and over 2 dozen vendors to reliably test and analyze interoperability of complex Carrier Ethernet services and technologies.

“For this event EANTC aimed to bring together best in class companies to demonstrate the future of Carrier Ethernet networks and services,” said Carsten Rossenhoevel, managing director of EANTC. “Spirent played an important role in testing and emulating significant aspects of this ‘real world’ subscriber-centric Carrier Ethernet network showcase.”
Spirent provided engineering expertise to support testing of MEF Ethernet services over MPLS, PBB-TE and T-MPLS metro/aggregation networks. Spirent TestCenter, used at the event, validated the interoperability of a number of technologies including Link Aggregation, Service OAM and Link OAM. Furthermore, Spirent TestCenter tested the latest addition to Carrier Ethernet – Provider Link State Bridge (PLSB) – a pre-standard implementation of the IEEE 802.1aq (Shortest Path Bridging). Other test areas included Ethernet OAM, Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) and 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM).

“Spirent TestCenter offers an unmatched combination of the latest Carrier Ethernet protocols such as PLSB with out of the box usability that gives our customers a competitive advantage by enabling them to bring products to market more quickly and with higher quality,” said Ken Van Orman, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Spirent Communications. “The EANTC CEWC Interoperability event compresses a very complex test cycle into two weeks and by doing so, really highlights Spirent TestCenter’s capabilities.”

This EANTC Interoperability Showcase is the most advanced public Carrier Ethernet multi-vendor showcase ever staged with 28 leading international vendors participating in a test event representing more than 90% of the Carrier Ethernet switch and router market share worldwide according to Heavy Reading. Leading router, switch, Multi-service CPE, and mobile backhaul vendors as well as provisioning, fault management, and emulator/analyzer vendors highlighted their interoperable solutions for the future of Carrier Ethernet services, transport and aggregation. The white paper detailing the particulars of this interoperability event is available at http://www.eantc.com/cewc2008.

Spirent TestCenter will also be on demonstration at the Interoperability Event Showcase at Carrier Ethernet World Congress in Singapore, November 12-14.

About EANTC
The European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) offers vendor-neutral consultancy and test facilities for network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprise customers. Primary business areas include interoperability, conformance and performance testing for Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS and Triple Play technologies and applications. For more information, contact Carsten Rossenhoevel, Managing Director, at +49.30.3180595-0 or via email at cross@eantc.com. http://www.eantc.com

Telecom Operator-Led HGI Selects Spirent Communications for Multiplay Quality of Service Testing

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter Assesses Quality of Service (QoS) and Multi-Session Support of Home Gateways and Reference Designs in First of its Kind Public Test Event

Sunnyvale, Calif. - September 23, 2009 — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider networks, services and device testing, today announced that it is providing the test infrastructure for the Home Gateway Initiative (HGI) Test Event that will establish Quality of Service (QoS) metrics and help demonstrate the ability of home gateways to deliver end-to-end QoS for multiplay managed services. A telecom operator led open forum committed to releasing specification for home gateways, HGI is using Spirent TestCenter™ to assure service providers that the home gateway vendors selected are in compliance with HGI’s quality metrics for broadband services.

“With service providers increasingly offering managed multiplay services such as video on demand, multiplayer games and other interactive applications, QoS has to take an end-to-end view that invariably involves the home gateway and in-home networks,” said Duncan Bees, chief technology and business officer, HGI. “Spirent TestCenter, a solution recognized for its accurate user emulation of end user traffic even at high load, provides us the capability of assessing if vendors are able to deliver the QoS needed to support differentiated business and residential services.”

Spirent will enable HGI to determine the mean performances of home gateways in specific configurations and conditions. In particular, Spirent TestCenter will measure throughput and latency for different Ethernet-based WAN and LAN configurations.

“Spirent has a history of establishing test standards and benchmarks and is honored to be selected by HGI for multiplay QoS test specification” said David Hill, vice president of sales, EMEA, Spirent “Spirent TestCenter’s ability to measure enhanced realism for multiplay services, and test individual elements as well as end-to-end solutions enables customers to thoroughly assess network devices not just for uptime but for service quality of experience.”

This HGI Test Event will help build upon the QoS architecture described in the recently published QoS White Paper. Furthermore the test will identify HGI-GD013-R2 and HGI’s requirements for multiple flows, currently an HGI working draft document (HGI-RWD010-R3). In doing so, home gateway vendors will be able to assess QoS and multi-session support in both the product and reference designs. The test event will be held September 28 - October 2 at Orange Telecom’s Lab in Lannion, France.

To learn more about ensuring QoS and QoE of multiplay service using Spirent TestCenter visit http://www.spirent.com/Solutions-Directory/Spirent_Multiplay.aspx.

About Home Gateway Initiative
The HGI was founded and launched by nine telecom operators (Belgacom, BT, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, KPN, TeliaSonera, NTT, Telecom Italia, and Telefonica) in 2004, and now has members from around the world, representing the entire spectrum of players in the broadband home arena. The main tasks of the HGI are to establish home gateway-related technical and interoperability specifications and provide input to standardization bodies. For more information visit www.homegatewayinitiative.org/Default.htm

About Spirent Communications plc

For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

Spirent Communications Puts Innovation to the Test at Carrier Ethernet World Congress

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ Validates Carrier Ethernet Network Performance and Vendor Interoperability

Sunnyvale, Calif. - (Sept 22, 2009) — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of networks, services and device testing, today announced its participation in the industry’s foremost Carrier Ethernet Interoperability Test Event conducted by EANTC. The live demonstration, showcased during Carrier Ethernet World Congress (September 21 – 23) in Berlin, featured Spirent TestCenter ™ validating the performance and interoperability of a multi-vendor Carrier Ethernet topology focused on three key areas: managed services, mobile backhaul and global interconnect.

“Innovations in Carrier Ethernet have come a long way as service providers prepare to deliver multiplay services across integrated packet networks,” said Carsten Rossenhövel, Managing Director of EANTC AG. “By working with companies such as Spirent, we help establish benchmarks to validate the performance and interoperability of multi-vendor Carrier Ethernet solutions.”

During the interoperability event, Spirent TestCenter ™ along with Spirent XGEM enabled the participants to determine if the latest Carrier Ethernet innovations can support carrier class managed Ethernet services. Spirent TestCenter is an integrated Layer 2- 7 test system designed to deliver enhanced application realism, performance and scalability testing.

“Our continued participation in next generation public tests such as those conducted by EANTC, underscores our ability to truly put innovation to the test,” said Tamer Abbas, director of Corporate Marketing at Spirent.

Frost & Sullivan’s recent study “World Gigabit Ethernet Test Equipment Market” recognized Spirent as the leader in 1G and 10G Ethernet test market. To learn more about testing Carrier Ethernet testing and Spirent TestCenter please visit http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/Broadband_Infrastructure_for_Multiplay/Spirent_Multiplay.aspx

About EANTC
For more information visit http://www.eantc.com

About Spirent Communications plc
For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

Spirent Showcases New Developments in GPS/GNSS Testing

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent demonstrates its complete GPS modernization and multi-GNSS simulator portfolio at ION GNSS 2009

Paignton, United Kingdom – September 21, 2009 – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announced that it will demonstrate its new GPS modernization and multi-GNSS product range at ION GNSS 2009. For the first time ever, event attendees will have access to live demonstrations of Spirent’s full range of GPS modernization and multi-GNSS simulators including the GSS8000 Multi-GNSS Simulator, GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Simulation System and GSS6300 Multi-GNSS Signal Generator.

Today, navigation and positioning technology is no longer just about GPS L1 and L2. GPS is being modernized to include M-code, L2C and L5; the GLONASS constellation is nearly complete; and new systems including QZSS, Galileo and Compass are on the way. The GNSS landscape presents several market opportunities with GNSS applications becoming more mainstream and available in a growing number of devices.

“Multi-GNSS offers significant opportunities and challenges to GNSS technology, system and application developers,” said John Pottle, marketing director of Spirent’s positioning technology division. “In the future, most commercial receivers will be multi-GNSS. Spirent has committed to providing the necessary test tools required by GNSS technology developers. GPS plus GLONASS is of particular interest today, as GLONASS now offers enough satellites to be a useful compliment to GPS, improving availability in built-up environments. If you are not currently working on multi-GNSS, you likely will be soon.”

Spirent’s comprehensive product offering supports both GPS modernization and multi-GNSS testing:

GPS Modernization Testing

The GSS8000 GPS/GNSS Constellation Simulator is fully approved to support SAASM, AES M-code and SDS M-code testing. In addition it supports anti-interference testing, CRPA testing and can be used for integrated GPS/Inertial testing.

Multi-GNSS Testing

The GSS8000 Multi-GNSS Simulator provides up to 3 constellations (GPS/SBAS, GLONASS and Galileo) in a single chassis. GPS configurations can also support QZSS.
The GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Simulation System offers multiple channels of coherent GPS/SBAS, GLONASS and/or Galileo L1 signals from a single chassis.
The GSS6300 Multi-GNSS Signal Generator provides a single channel of GPS/SBAS, GLONASS and/or Galileo L1 signals for production testing on commercial GNSS receivers.

Visit Spirent booth #D at ION GNSS 2009 for a live demonstration of GPS modernization and multi-GNSS simulators. For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/Positioning-and-Navigation/GNSS.aspx

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division

For more information about Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division visit
www.spirent.com/positioning

About Spirent Federal Systems Inc.

For more information about Spirent Federal Systems Inc. www.spirentfederal.com

About Spirent Communications plc

For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

Spirent Communications Drives Innovation in High Speed Ethernet with New 40/100G Ethernet Test System

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics 40/100G Ethernet Module Extends Ethernet Market Leadership with Highest Scale, Highest Performance Layer 1-7 Test System

Sunnyvale, Calif. –September 8, 2009 — Continuing on the path of innovation and leadership in Ethernet testing, Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the global provider of network, services and device testing solutions, today introduced the Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics™ 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet test module. Designed to test the performance and scalability of 40/100G Ethernet systems and services, the new module goes beyond test port density to focus on application realism, accuracy and performance per port, reducing operational expenses and total cost of ownership (TCO).

“As service providers prepare to deploy 40/100G Ethernet networks next year, they have to test optical transport, IP routers, and Carrier Ethernet systems for performance, scale, and quality of experience,” stated Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics Research. "Service providers and network equipment manufacturers need reliable testing products to ensure that the 40G and 100G Ethernet equipment - which promises to perform at up to ten times current speeds and scale - actually delivers. Of the Ethernet testing gear we have seen to date, Spirent's is among the best, especially at simulating real world services.”

The Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics 40/100G Ethernet module delivers several industry firsts including the generation of realistic multiplay traffic for the highest scale edge and core IP services testing the highest performance per port and the maximum return on investment. Leveraging Spirent’s HyperMetrics multi-core processor, the new test module validates performance, scalability and realism. Further, to support all aspects of 40/100G Ethernet development the Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics 40/100G Ethernet modules goes beyond Layer 2-7 to include Layer 1 functional testing.

“Spirent is advancing 40/100G Ethernet deployments by delivering better performance and scalability testing,” said Jeff Schmitz, vice president of Performance Analysis, Spirent. “By offering a solution that addresses the dual challenge of scaling the upper-layer engines to deliver services and providing the highest quality of experience at four to ten times the current rate, we ensure that our customers maintain brand credibility and subscriber confidence.”

Spirent TestCenter’s future-proof architecture with backward compatibility and integrated Spirent NoCode™ automation framework makes the solution the preferred return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO) platform for high-speed Ethernet testing. Spirent’s latest white paper on the challenges and complexity of testing 40G and 100G Ethernet networks addresses how Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics 40/100G Ethernet modules help address the issues faced today by equipment manufacturers, service providers and organizations with enterprise networks.

About Spirent Communications plc
Spirent Communications (www.spirent.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent Communications’ solutions are used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,300 employees worldwide. For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

Leading Service Providers Depend on Spirent Communications to Accelerate Successful 10 Gigabit Ethernet Deployments

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent QoS Scope, Industry’s First 10G Ethernet Service Assurance Solution, Extends Spirent’s Lab Testing Leadership in the Live Network

Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 8, 2009 — In an effort to not only help carriers pre-qualify new 10 Gigabit Ethernet services but also ensure their networks perform reliably once launched, Spirent Communications plc, today introduced, Spirent QoS Scope 7500, the industry’s first 10G Ethernet service assurance solution for testing service performance in live networks. Already deployed by three of the largest service providers in the United States, the QoS Scope validates the performance of complex 10G and 1G Ethernet services such as business Ethernet and wireless backhaul.

A leader in network, services and device testing, Spirent has extended its technical prowess and leadership in lab-based Ethernet testing to help service providers address issues that occur in their live networks. The QoS Scope provides valuable ways to conduct service assurance for Ethernet over Fiber, SONET/SDH, WDM, TDM, DOCSIS, GPON and copper architectures in both trial and live network environments.

“Service providers are challenged with deploying and maintaining Ethernet services within constrained budgets while ensuring that “carrier-grade” service and quality of experience continually exceed customer expectations,” said John Cunningham, vice president of Service Assurance at Spirent. “With the QoS Scope, we’ve extended our deep understanding of Ethernet testing to offer a solution which helps operators of advanced networks better diagnose and address potential issues before they impact the bottom line.”

With a combination of active and passive capabilities, and the capacity to support simultaneous test sessions, a carrier can use the QoS Scope to successfully launch service as well as identify any degradation that occurs in the network after launch. Armed with information provided by this solution, the service provider can then dispatch a field technician to fix rather than find problems reported by the customer. The QoS Scope also facilitates the continuous 24x7 monitoring of network performance allowing service providers to identify and fix issues that have impacted or may impact Service Level Agreements (SLAs) before customers are affected. Support for both 1G and 10G Ethernet networks enables providers to deploy a single solution that covers large and small architectures, thereby reducing the cost and the complexity of their service assurance strategy.

Spirent was recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the global leader in Ethernet testing according to the research firm’s World Gigabit Ethernet Test Equipment Market report. Spirent sold more Ethernet test ports than any other vendor through its comprehensive solution portfolio that spans testing from the lab to the live network and into the subscriber’s home. For more information about 1GigE and 10GigE Ethernet monitoring and diagnostics, and Spirent QoS Scope visit http://www.spirent.com/Solutions-Directory/~/media/Datasheets/Broadband/SAB/QoS7500_datasheet.ashx

Carriers Confidently Deliver Multiplay Services into the Home with Advanced Local Loop and FTTN Test Modules from Spirent Communications

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Tech-X Flex™ Adds Copper, DSL Modules to Handheld Tool’s Wide-Reaching Resources

Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 2, 2009 — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in network, services and device testing, today announced the addition of copper and DSL modules for its market leading Spirent Tech-X Flex™. The new wideband copper and ADSL / VDSL2 modules extend the reach of Spirent Tech-X Flex to the last mile providing a solution that enables service providers to confidently roll out new services with fewer quality issues and complaints.

“Spirent continues to demonstrate why its testing solutions remain the preferred equipment of choice not just in the lab but also in the field in live networks such as outside plant and residential settings,” said Sean Yarborough, director of strategy and business development, Spirent. “We offer the industry’s smallest and most ergonomic tool for field testing while delivering modules that allow for the use of a single, compact device that ultimately reduces the cost and training efforts compared with conventional devices.”

As more technicians are tasked with tackling problems both inside and outside the home, Spirent Tech-X Flex allows service issues to be resolved quickly. This approach is particularly important with ADSL2+ and VDSL2 deployments as it becomes critical that service providers deliver sufficient bandwidth into the home to offer a seamless multiplay experience.

Spirent Tech-X Flex’s unique on-board expert analysis features provide technicians with the power of Spirent’s award winning technical expertise and experience allowing them to make better and more informed assessments. This ultimately leads to faster repair times and returns revenue generating copper pairs back into service as soon as possible.

The DSL module offers a single solution for field testing ADSL-based and VDSL2 services with multi-vendor interoperability for many chipsets including Infineon, Broadcom, Ikanos and Conexant. As service providers migrate from ADSL-based services to VDSL2, Tech-X Flex allows for the continued use of a single solution helping to reduce or even eliminate additional purchases of test equipment. In addition Tech-X Flex provides technicians with a method of verifying that the data rates into the home are suitable for the delivery of high bandwidth services such as IPTV. The solution can also be used to determine if data service is operating correctly by way of the on board Web browser. Spirent’s active Web browser allows Web connectivity to be checked over the DSL interface which helps sectionalize problems should they occur elsewhere in the home or other dwelling.

The copper module provides a range of comprehensive tests that allow technicians to test standard voice services as well as troubleshoot and maintain wideband services up to 30MHz which are required for the delivery of triple play services. Spirent’s Advanced Impulse Noise Capture test, for example, allows technicians to capture information on electrical noise and its impact on DSL service so that further analysis can be carried out to identify the source of the interfererence.

Spirent Tech-X Flex offers the industry’s most comprehensive handheld tester which allows field technicians to qualify and troubleshoot service-related issues within the consumer’s home and the outside plant. For more information on Spirent’s field and outside plant testing solutions and the market leading Spirent Tech –X Flex visit http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/OSP_and_InHomeTesting/Tech-X-Flex.aspx

Spirent Communications and AT4 wireless Collaboration Results in Industry First for LTE Device Testing

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent LTE Network Emulator Delivers the Industry's Only Solutions to Test All Aspects of LTE Multi-Mode Device Performance

Sunnyvale, Calif. – As the wireless industry prepares for the launch of LTE networks, Spirent Communications plc, the leader in wireless network, services and devices testing, today announced the Spirent LTE Network Emulator. The result of a collaborative engagement with AT4 wireless, a wireless testing services and test solutions company, the new LTE Network Emulator plays a key role in Spirent’s performance test solutions for next-generation mobile devices.

Built on cutting-edge technologies from Spirent and AT4 wireless, the Spirent LTE Network Emulator shares a common platform with AT4 wireless’ E2010 Broadband Wireless Test Set and integrates Spirent’s real-time state machine with enhanced packet core (EPC) network emulation. In combination with Spirent’s existing CDMA and UMTS network emulators, the Spirent LTE Network Emulator delivers a unique multi-technology, multi-cell capability that enables all aspects of LTE multi-mode (LTE with CDMA/EV-DO and/or UMTS) device performance to be fully tested in the lab prior to commercial launch.

It is critical that LTE-capable devices launched during early LTE network deployments, currently planned for 2010, perform well and work seamlessly with legacy networks, so early adopters aren’t disappointed with device performance. Formal industry certification requirements for LTE devices are not expected to be ratified in time to meet the needs of these first deployments. For this reason, leading network operators are expected to set their own LTE device performance requirements, some of which will go beyond basic conformance testing standards. This approach reinforces the need to fully validate LTE multi-mode device performance through comprehensive testing prior to launch.

“User satisfaction with LTE device performance will play an important role in determining the success of early LTE deployments,” said Charles Simmons, president of Spirent’s wireless division. “Network operators and device vendors can now bring to market high performance, best-in-class LTE-capable devices through a rich portfolio of LTE solutions that leverage Spirent’s strengths in device performance testing and AT4 wireless’ strengths in conformance testing for device certification.”

The collaboration also strengthens the conformance test portfolio of AT4 wireless, which will integrate Spirent’s AirAccess CDMA Network Emulator into its LTE Protocol & Radio Resource Management (RRM) Conformance Test solutions.

“This agreement with Spirent helps to reinforce AT4 wireless’ LTE technology strength,” said Joaquín Torrecilla, Chief Technology Officer at AT4 wireless. “Spirent’s wide product range and customer relationships will enable us to apply our technology to a broader range of markets beyond just device conformance test.”

The Spirent LTE Network Emulator forms a key element of Spirent’s 8100 Mobile Device Test System. The 8100 provides test coverage for multiple phases of the product lifecycle, from device manufacturer R&D to network operator device acceptance. Advanced test automation helps reduce time-to-market for devices, across a range of air interface technologies. Spirent’s 8100 LTE solutions also offer a straightforward upgrade path for customers of Spirent’s existing CDMA/EV-DO and UMTS test solutions. For more information on Spirent LTE test solutions, visit http://www.spirent.com/Mobile/LTE_devices.aspx.

About AT4 wireless
AT4 wireless, a global supplier of Testing Solutions for wireless technologies prides itself on being both the most complete Wireless Certification & Testing Laboratory in the world and a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge test & measurement equipment for telecommunication technologies. With the largest coverage in different technologies (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, LTE, WiMAX™, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, RFID, NFC and EPC) and a portfolio that ranges from conformance, regulatory and interoperability testing to world-wide compliance services, AT4 wireless’ Test Laboratory offers a one-stop-shop approach for the certification of telecommunication devices. AT4 wireless was founded in 1991, has more than 340 employees and operates from its headquarters in Malaga, Spain and its US-based branch in Herndon, Virginia. For more information, visit www.at4wireless.com.

About Spirent Communications plc
Spirent Communications (www.spirent.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent Communications’ solutions are used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,300 employees worldwide. For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

China Telecom Selects Spirent Communications for Mobile Terminal Testing

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent C2K-ATS Test System Provides Signaling Conformance, RF Performance and Data Application Testing Capabilities

Sunnyvale, Calif. — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in wireless network, devices and applications testing, today announced that China Telecom has selected the Spirent C2K-ATS system to test mobile phones before they are offered to its subscribers. China Telecom will use the Spirent test system for parametric radio testing, signaling conformance testing, data performance testing and location-based services (LBS) testing.

The Spirent C2K-ATS system was selected by China Telecom following an internal “bake-off” that compared solutions in several categories. China Telecom will use the Spirent C2K-ATS system to test mobile devices for compliance to industry standards as well as for application service quality.

“Poorly performing mobile devices result in more than just costly subscriber churn,” said Richard Webb, principal analyst, Infonetics Research. “These devices can increase operational costs by wasting scarce network resources. Operators also bear the costs of technical resources trying to identify network issues when the problem is with the phone. Going beyond certification testing to include performance testing is critical, especially as mobile operators migrate to 3G and LTE technologies. Solutions like the C2K-ATS help operators test not only today’s technologies, but they also support the migration to next-generation networks and devices.”

Spirent C2K-ATS system is the de facto industry standard for CDMA and EV-DO testing. Nearly 100 percent of the CDMA and EV-DO mobile device designs deployed in the world today have been tested on this system. In addition to automated conformance testing, the single-platform multi-function tool can be tailored for mobile device design-verification testing (DVT), product integration and debugging, and the resolution of post-deployment issues by quantifying device performance in terms of RF performance, protocol issues and A-GPS performance.

“China Telecom is currently the world leader in CDMA and EV-DO subscriber growth, and is poised to deliver service to over 100 million people.” said Rob VanBrunt, vice president at Spirent’s Wireless Division. “It is an exciting time for all of us, and we will continue our close cooperation to ensure that our test solutions help China Telecom deliver the highest-quality service.”

Spirent Communications is a global leader in the testing of CDMA mobile devices. Its automated test solutions cover physical layer, protocol layer, data performance and A-GPS location for product development, verification and deployment. This includes conformance/certification testing against industry-specified requirements and network operator acceptance testing. For more information of CDMA device testing and Spirent C2K-ATS system visit http://www.spirent.com/Mobile/CDMA_EV-DO_device/C2K-ATS.aspx

About China Telecom
China Telecom Corporation Limited is a full services integrated operator and the world's largest wireline telecommunications and broadband services provider, providing telecommunications and information services including wireline voice, mobile voice, data, video and multimedia in the PRC. As of the end of 2008, the Company has wireline access lines in service of 208 million, broadband subscribers of over 44 million and mobile subscribers of about 28 million. The Company's H shares and American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the New York Stock Exchange, respectively. For more information visit http://en.chinatelecom.com.cn/

Cisco’s Medianet Solution Benchmarked by Spirent Communications in Industry’s Largest Public 1GigE and 10GigE IPTV Test

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ HyperMetrics™ Validates Resiliency and Video Quality of
Cisco’s IP Video Service Delivery Network

Sunnyvale, Calif. – August 13, 2009 — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in network, services and device testing, successfully supported the industry’s largest public IPTV test by validating the resiliency and video quality of Cisco’s medianet solution. Medianet Megatest, the independent benchmarking of Cisco’s IP video service delivery network equipment conducted by the European Advanced Networking Test Center AG (EANTC), demonstrated that Spirent is the foremost provider of test and measurement solutions suited to validate IP video applications and the infrastructure required to deliver large-scale multiplay offerings.

The test bed utilized Spirent’s multiplay solutions including Spirent TestCenter™ to validate the resiliency of Cisco’s medianet solution. In addition, the test demonstrated Cisco’s ability to monitor as well as maintain video quality under a variety of network conditions, including jitter, real-time loss and short term latency.

“As service providers seek to deploy large scale IPTV networks, manufacturers of network equipment are increasingly looking for flexible and proven ways to test the gear that will support these systems,” said Carsten Rossenhövel, Managing Director, EANTC AG. “Spirent has been an invaluable partner in this test, emulating realistic traffic profiles required to assess the performance of multiplay networks and multi-technology platforms in an effort to ensure delivery of the highest Quality of Experience (QoE).”

This sophisticated test setup included 300 1GbE and 10GbE ports, more than 318,000 hosts and
over 739,000 streams. Spirent was selected by EANTC for this Cisco medianet Megatest for its unique ability to:

Use short term latency and real-time loss to intelligently measure the behavior of video buffers to validate how well the video traffic will perform in a live network
Leverage test lab automation based on the industry leading Automation Continuum framework to shrink test time and rapidly move through test iterations while still measuring all key metrics in a single pass
Deliver reporting with intelligent trend analysis to quickly analyze key QoE metrics across large volumes of data

“We’re proud to be the ongoing defacto choice for the largest and most complex public communications tests in the industry,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Converged Core Solutions Group at Spirent. “Our involvement in this recent IPTV test solidifies our leadership position in supporting the needs of the most respected makers of next-generation communication equipment. When it comes to providing cost-effective, scalable test solutions that ensure the highest level of QoE, Spirent is the leader.”

Communications industry leaders such as Cisco continually turn to Spirent to tackle their multifaceted testing needs. With its ability to deliver enhanced realism by scaling in multiple dimensions, including ports, traffic, users, and sessions, and automate testing with Spirent NoCode™, Spirent’s suite of testing solutions enabled Cisco to assess true network performance under real-world conditions. Additionally, Spirent allowed Cisco to measure video quality, and to compare the results to Cisco’s own video monitoring capabilities, helping the vendor deliver the highest QoE.

To download EANTC’s latest whitepaper on IPTV testing and learn more about Spirent TestCenter, visit http://www.spirent.com/Solutions-Directory/Spirent_Multiplay.aspx.

About EANTC
EANTC (European Advanced Networking Test Center) is an internationally recognized independent test lab founded in Berlin, Germany in 1991. EANTC offers vendor neutral telecom infrastructure test facilities, including quality assurance for manufacturers, proof of concept and type approval testing for service providers and life cycle testing and consultancy for governments and enterprises.
EANTC tests technologies such as Carrier Ethernet, Triple Play, Mobile Backhaul and MPLS as well as enterprise connectivity, security and content filtering solutions. For more information visit http://www.eantc.com/

About Spirent Communications plc
Spirent Communications (www.spirent.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent Communications’ solutions are used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,500 employees worldwide. For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

Spirent Communications Validates Video Performance of Industry’s First Live Global Interconnection Demonstration

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Video Network Demonstration Relies Solely on Spirent for Video Generation and Analysis Capabilities

Sunnyvale, Calif. – August 12, 2009 — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), in its continuing role as a leader in network, services and device testing, played a critical part in the industry’s first live interconnection carrier Ethernet demonstration conducted at the Ethernet Expo: Europe 2009 Conference and Expo.

Dubbed the Global Interconnect Demonstration (GID), the event involved interconnecting Carrier Ethernet services as defined by the MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) as well as core and access Ethernet switches that enable these services. Spirent supported the following GID demonstration initiatives:

Measured performance of live interconnected Carrier Ethernet between a number of global service providers
Validated next generation implementations of protocols and services from multiple core and access switch vendors interoperating together
Ran high-bandwidth applications, such as global interactive video services, over circuits interconnecting from the show floor to sites around the world

The GID designer and organizer, Iometrix, a recognized and trusted certification test lab for MEF-defined Carrier Ethernet, selected Spirent VQA (Video Quality Analyzer) on the Spirent TestCenter to:

Emulate high-bandwidth, interactive video services over a live, interconnected global network
Assess real-time Quality of Service (QoS) delivery of video services at several network end points
Generate Quality of Experience (QoE) reports summarizing video behavior from hundreds of video quality metrics

“We are very pleased to see Spirent participate in the Global Interconnect Demo and demonstrate HDTV broadcast quality video transmitting directly from the demo show floor in London to Frankfurt on a trans-European Carrier Ethernet circuit,” said Bob Mandeville, president of Iometrix. “By combining video generation and real-time analysis, Spirent provided the many visitors to the demo with both visual and analytical evidence of the exceptional level of service quality delivered on the long-reach demo interconnected Ethernet service.”

“Demonstrating to global services providers and network equipment a complete picture for video quality over a global interconnected network was an exciting way for Spirent to showcase our leading video test solution.” said Jack Douglass, Director of Video Technology at Spirent Communications. “Event participants witnessed the impact of video testing and how Spirent is able to help advance their delivery of video services.”

Spirent VQA for Spirent TestCenter combines the comprehensive Layer 2-7 performance capabilities with deep video analysis capabilities supporting hundreds of IPTV QoS/QoE metrics such as program information, perceptual quality, network, MDI, content, frame statistics, video scene analysis and ETSI TR101-290.

For more information on Spirent TestCenter and video testing solutions visit http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/Broadband_Infrastructure_for_Multiplay/Spirent_Multiplay.aspx

The New GSS6300 Completes Spirent Communications’ Multi-GNSS Family of Products

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent GSS6300 is the First Test System Designed for High Volume Manufacturing Environments of GPS, GLONASS and Galileo Devices

Paignton, United Kingdom – August 11, 2009 – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announced the launch of the Spirent GSS6300 Multi-GNSS Signal Generator. The GSS6300 is an addition to Spirent’s Multi-GNSS product portfolio, joining the recently launched GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Simulation System and the GSS8000 Multi-GNSS Constellation Simulator. This product portfolio provides comprehensive GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and SBAS test solutions from high-end R&D through integration and production applications.

The GSS6300 is designed specifically for high volume production test applications for devices that use commercial GPS/SBAS, GLONASS and/or Galileo receivers. The system provides a comprehensive remote control interface, facilitating easy integration into Automated Test Equipment (ATE) environments.

“The GSS6300 is an evolution of the familiar Spirent GSS6100 single channel GPS/SBAS production test system that is widely specified for manufacturing test applications,” said Steve Hickling, product manager with Spirent’s Positioning Technology division. “The new product shares the features, interfaces and specifications of the existing GSS6100 product with the added benefit of having GLONASS and Galileo capability as well as GPS/SBAS.”

Designed with ease-of-use and cost efficiencies in mind, the test approach can be configured to reduce test time per device, and in-rack calibration reduces down time and disruption. The system can be upgraded in the field, from a single constellation of GPS/SBAS to two or three constellation systems that include GLONASS and/or Galileo. In addition, each GSS6300 includes the class-leading accuracy and reliability that Spirent customers have come to expect.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division
Spirent (www.spirent.com/positioning) is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning test equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to high volume commercial markets.

About Spirent Federal Systems Inc.
Spirent Federal Systems (www.spirentfederal.com) was formed in July 2001 by Spirent Communications as a wholly owned subsidiary and United States proxy company. Spirent Federal markets and sells products in North and South America with value-added features and ongoing customer support. Spirent Federal Systems is headquartered in Yorba Linda, California, with support and sales offices throughout the US.

Spirent Communications Selected to Evaluate H3C’s 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet Data Center Core Switch Platform

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ Used for Performance Evaluation of H3C S12500 Series Data Center Switches

Sunnyvale, Calif. – August 11, 2009 – Spirent Communications plc. (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of network, device and services testing solutions, today announced that H3C selected its award-winning Spirent TestCenter™ platform to evaluate the performance of the H3C S12500 family of data center switches. Spirent TestCenter ™ was selected specifically to test forwarding performance of the high-port-density S12500 platform. The S12500 is the first data center class core switch based on a 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) platform and supports 40 GigE, 100 GigE and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) links, meeting the ever-increasing performance requirements of modern data centers.

Spirent, recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the global leader in enterprise network testing as well as the global leader in Ethernet testing, provides the industry’s highest test port density with 4.8 terabits of traffic generation and analysis per rack. Furthermore, the realism capabilities only available with Spirent TestCenter reveal the true performance of data center elements and systems.

“The S12500 family of routing switches is the result of unrelenting innovation by H3C,” noted Sun Dehe, vice president for Network Product Line at H3C. “With this test, we are able to objectively verify the data center switch’s outstanding performance and quality. The test methodology, management and implementation capabilities provided by Spirent greatly reduced the time needed to verify product performance and reliability. Additionally, by using Spirent’s testing and professional services we have enhanced customer confidence in the robustness and performance of our products.”

Tests performed by H3C included evaluating the forwarding performance of Layer 2, Layer 3 (IPv4 and IPv6), multicast and MPLS traffic on 128 10G ports, as well as cache testing with bursty traffic. The results demonstrate that the S12500 platform is capable of supporting line-rate 100 GigE traffic with zero packet loss, through superior forwarding performance, powerful caching capabilities and extremely high reliability and stability.

“Our work to evaluate H3C’s 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet switch platform exemplifies why Spirent TestCenter is the standard for Ethernet network testing and the choice for testing high-end products in an increasingly complex network,” said Peter Tan, general manager, Spirent Communications, Greater China. “As the global leader in Ethernet testing, features such as time-saving test wizards and NoCodeTM test automation along with professional services, have established Spirent as the preferred test partner for network equipment manufacturers and service providers.”

The accuracy resolution capabilities of Spirent TestCenter’s architecture enabled this specific effort and were designed to support 2.5ns with Layer 2-7 performance testing for end-to-end high-speed testing. Spirent TestCenter has been repeatedly selected by the world leading test labs, testing and evaluation organizations, equipment vendors and service providers as a critical component in network element and system testing. For more information on Spirent TestCenter and data center testing visit: http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/Enterprise_networks.aspx

About H3C
H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C) is a leading global supplier of IP-based products and solutions. With principal operations in Hangzhou, China, H3C employs 4,800 people worldwide. To maintain a level of innovation and technical excellence, H3C operates advanced R&D facilities in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shenzhen in China; invests more than 15 percent of revenues back into R&D every year and has more than half of the workforce engaged in research and development. To date, H3C has applied for more than 2,000 patents, 85% of which are original invention patents. For more information visit http://www.h3c.com/

Spirent Communications plc, Half-Year Report 2009

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK - 4 August 2009: Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, today announces its half-year results for the six months ended 28 June 2009.

Highlights

Revenue for the first half-year grew 15 per cent to £139.1 million (first half 2008: £120.5 million) as a result of currency benefit; at constant currencies revenue was down 10 per cent.
Operating profit up 14 per cent at £24.0 million (first half 2008: £21.0 million); at constant currencies operating profit was down 16 per cent.
Adjusted earnings per share up 13 per cent at 3.01 pence (first half 2008: 2.67 pence) after charging 0.12 pence (first half 2008: 0.16 pence) for share-based payment and amortisation of intangibles.
Interim dividend increased by 10 per cent to 0.55 pence per share payable in September 2009 (first half 2008: 0.50 pence).
Free cash flow of £27.1 million representing 19 per cent of sales (first half 2008: £17.8 million). Closing cash of £80.5 million (31 December 2008: £59.7 million).
Maintained healthy order book and financial position.

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"In difficult market conditions, Spirent has maintained profitability and gained market share. We have introduced new products and technologies unabated allowing us to deliver best-in-class solutions to our customers in growing markets such as Smartphones. Revenue in the key Performance Analysis business was in line with expectations which, combined with the benefits realised from careful cost management, resulted in a solid first half performance. Whilst the market remains challenging, Spirent is in good shape to deliver on our expected performance in 2009."

Results Summary

£ million	First half 2009	First half 2008	Change (%)	Change at constant currencies³ (%)
Reported
Revenue	139.1	120.5	15	(10)
Operating profit	24.0	21.0	14	(16)
Profit before tax	23.6	23.4	1
Basic earnings per share (pence)	3.01	2.85	6
Interim dividend per share (pence)	0.55	0.50	10
Adjusted
Profit before tax¹	23.6	22.6	4
Adjusted earnings per share² (pence)	3.01	2.67	13

Notes
1 Before exceptional items in 2008.
2 Adjusted earnings per share is based on adjusted earnings as set out in note 7 of Notes to the half-year financial statements.
3 Change at constant currencies eliminating the effects of fluctuating exchange rates on the translation of operating results and on transactions.

Enquiries

William Burns, Chief Executive Officer	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

The Company will host a results presentation today at 09.15 for 09.30 UK time at Financial Dynamics, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1PB. A simultaneous webcast of the presentation will be available in the Investors section of the Spirent Communications plc website at www.spirent.com.

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

Cautionary Statement
This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Download full press release [PDF 328KB]

Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Spirent Communications as the Global Market Leader for Ethernet Testing

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Ranks First for Ethernet Testing in Lab, Live and Home Networks

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of network, device and services testing, has been recognized as the market leader for Ethernet testing by Frost & Sullivan according to the World Gigabit Ethernet Test Equipment Market report. Spirent sold more Ethernet test ports than any other vendor through its comprehensive solution portfolio that spans testing from the lab to the live network and into the subscriber’s home.

“For more than a decade Spirent has pioneered advancements in Ethernet testing and we are delighted to see our leadership position validated by our customers through Frost & Sullivan’s research,” said Bill Burns, CEO, Spirent. “As the industry migrates to ever more complex technologies, we remain focused on delivering world-class products that enable our customers to rapidly deliver new solutions and services.”
This award underscores Spirent’s unmatched Ethernet testing expertise that extends from the lab with product development and verification, to the field for service assurance and to the in-home network to ensure Quality of Experience (QoE) of multiplay applications. Spirent’s Ethernet lab solutions including its flagship product – Spirent TestCenter ™, and service assurance tools such as Spirent Tech-X Flex, have been designed to test high-speed communication networks that deliver rich media content.

As the industry migrates to 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet networks that support high bandwidth applications, addressing realism will be critical to ensuring service QoE. The emphasis on realism is the reason why service providers and equipment manufacturers across the globe depend on Spirent to address the complexities of high-speed Ethernet testing.

“It is no longer enough to offer test tools that focus solely on performance,” said Jessy Cavazos, industry manager, Measurement & Instrumentation, Frost & Sullivan. “Instead, network equipment vendors and service providers are demanding test solutions that offer enhanced realism as they scale their products and networks. Spirent stands above the crowd in terms of delivering the realism, scalability and the intelligent results required by customers testing Ethernet solutions today.”

Spirent was also recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the market leader for enterprise network test and measurement solutions. In addition, it has received numerous other accolades including Test & Measurement World’s 2009 Best in Test Award, and the NGN Leadership Award 2009.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the growth partnership company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's growth partnership service provides the CEO and the CEO's growth team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 35 offices on six continents. To join our growth partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

New Multi-GNSS Navigation and Positioning Test System

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:25:00 GMT

Spirent GSS6700 offers a flexible solution for R&D, integration and verification testing of GPS, GLONASS and Galileo devices.

Paignton, United Kingdom – July 16, 2009 – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announced the launch of the Spirent GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Constellation Simulator for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) testing. The GSS6700 offers not only GPS test capability but also support for the Russian GLONASS system and planned European Galileo system.

“Many people are actively looking at adding more signals from different satellite constellations to improve navigation and positioning device performance” commented John Pottle, marketing director of Spirent’s Positioning Technology division. “Spirent has significant experience in developing and offering test systems which combine GPS, GLONASS and Galileo signals. The new GSS6700 is designed for testing devices that use commercial multi-GNSS signals. Each GSS6700 benefits from Spirent’s proven heritage of technical excellence and reliability.”
The GSS6700 is available with a range of software capabilities designed to suit differing test requirements. SimGEN is Spirent’s fully flexible simulator software suite and would typically be used in technology development and R&D applications. For environments where repeat testing using the same test cases is needed, for example verification testing, Spirent’s SimREPLAY software is available. SimREPLAY can be specified with web-based or on-board limited scenario generation capability.

In addition to GPS, GLONASS and Galileo commercial signals, the GSS6700 supports augmentation system and interference testing. Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) support is a standard offering with GPS systems. Options include dynamic and flexible interference signal generation, vehicle sensor emulation coherent with GNSS and Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) support. Spirent also offers a range of test scenarios to reduce test scenario development time.

Simulation of GPS, GLONASS and Galileo is acknowledged as the best way of testing GNSS receiver, system and application performance. Only laboratory simulation can ensure controlled, repeatable testing that explores both nominal and off-design conditions with easy access to test data. By following a structured test approach, Spirent’s customers can test multi-GNSS receivers, systems and applications resulting in reduced costs, shorter development times and improved performance.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division

Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning test equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to high volume commercial markets.

About Spirent Federal Systems Inc.

Spirent Federal Systems (www.spirentfederal.com) was formed in July 2001 by Spirent Communications as a wholly owned subsidiary and United States proxy company. Spirent Federal markets and sells products in North and South America with value-added features and ongoing customer support. Spirent Federal Systems is headquartered in Yorba Linda, California, with support and sales offices throughout the US.

Spirent Communications Redefines Test Lab Automation, Simplifies and Streamlines Testing Process

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent NoCode™ Delivers Industry’s First Comprehensive Solution Set to Address the Entire Gamut of Test Automation Challenges

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in network, services and device testing, today announced the introduction of a broad set of tools designed to automate the testing process and save engineers and their organizations time and money. Spirent NoCode™ delivers the industry’s first and only complete set of integrated end-to-end automation solutions covering the entire breadth of test automation requirements through a portfolio of offerings that fit a wide variety of needs and enable users to introduce higher quality products and services more quickly and at a significantly lower cost.

Spirent NoCode is a suite of capabilities which streamlines the efforts associated with managing physical infrastructure, integrating and configuring the test environment, authoring and executing test cases, as well as orchestrating entire test campaigns.

“Given the global economic climate which continues to put pressure on our customers, there has never been a more urgent need for increased productivity and reduced cost,” said Neil Anderson, vice president of Global Services at Spirent Communications. “The traditional approach to automation consisted of piecemeal, challenge-specific, and non-scalable homegrown solutions. Spirent NoCode now defines the next generation of test automation solutions to address the broad range of challenges customers face today.”

Spirent NoCode is a set of product-agnostic solutions that correspond precisely with the problem domains faced by customers struggling with the cost and complexity of testing. The NoCode solutions:

Spirent NoCode Physical Infrastructure helps engineers realize true lab automation and cost- reduction through the optimization and promotion of sharing lab equipment by job scheduling and use of transparent switching infrastructure. Ultimately, organizations can better manage the costs related to utilizing equipment and more easily maintain global test equipment assets.
Spirent NoCode Environment enhances collaboration in the lab by integrating and streamlining automation processes within existing infrastructures, supports a standardized communication platform for configuration of devices and implementation, and automates configuration and pass/fail criteria within tests.
Spirent NoCode Test Case allows engineers to author test cases and convert them into executable scripts without coding. Users can specify test logic in a GUI to realistically emulate network activity, analyze results and uncover bugs. This approach allows users not skilled in programming to quickly build automated test cases.
Spirent NoCode Test Cycle supports a complete regression environment and enables the optimization and execution of test cases based on available test resources as well as the valuable measurement of operational performance.

Spirent NoCode solutions are designed in accordance with the automation framework defined by the Test Automation Alliance (TAA). Spirent NoCode is the first commercial implementation of the TAA Automation Continuum and delivers an integrated, modular, multi-vendor, multi-layer test framework with test and lab management capabilities covering operations, test, systems and device automation.

For more information on Spirent NoCode, Test Automation Alliance (TAA) or Spirent, visit www.spirent.com [keyword NoCode, TAA and Spirent]

Spirent Communications, Serviceforce.Com Collaborate to Advance Automation of Mobile Device Testing

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent UTS, Mobile Robot Take Mobile Device Test Automation to New Level

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc, the leader in wireless network, services and device testing, today announced that it successfully demonstrated that the Spirent Universal Tool Suite (UTS) interface architecture can control ServiceForce.com’s Mobile Robot, a robotic mobile device operator. Spirent’s UTS is a chipset-independent architecture used industry-wide to automate wireless device testing for UMTS, CDMA and EV-DO technologies. This collaborative effort adds an extra level of capability to mobile device testing by making it practical to incorporate test automation into a tool which physically manipulates mobile devices.

Rapid growth in the mobile industry puts device vendors under significant pressure to introduce new products and services quickly. A shortage of experienced test engineers means that test lab managers are looking for new ways increase the productivity of existing resources through automation.

“Complex handset test sequences may take many hours to run, hence the ability to control the handset without operator intervention is vital,” said Gene Kientzy, vice president of Mobile Automation and Multimedia Market Segment at Spirent. “Some customers prefer to accomplish this effort using a mechanical approach that simulates user operation of the device. Our recent proof-of-concept collaboration with ServiceForce.com has shown that, through integration with Spirent’s software test automation suite, mechanical mobile device testing can be an effective and practical alternative to software control."

ServiceForce.com employs a robotic approach to the automation of mobile device testing. The company’s Mobile Robot interacts with mobile devices by simulating actions via a robotic arm and a camera. The robotic arm replicates key presses that would be made by a user while a mounted camera verifies success or failure of the action by making image comparisons. These actions can be repeated indefinitely under stringent test conditions.

“We worked with Spirent to determine the optimal communication mechanisms between Spirent’s test system and our robotic arm,” said Gregg Roper, Business Development manager at ServiceForce.com. “The proof-of-concept exercise demonstrates that an XML-based Spirent UTS interface provides the best one-to-one mapping between the two systems, and that this approach can form the basis for further developments.”

Spirent has a portfolio of solutions that make it easy for test labs to specify, run and analyze results from automated testing of UMTS, CDMA and EV-DO mobile devices. Through automation, vendors and providers are able to perform more thorough and extensive testing of their products faster and test engineers are able to focus their skills on higher value tasks such as troubleshooting and results interpretation.

About ServiceForce.com

ServiceForce.com GmbH represents more than 20 years experience in testing and product validation for customers of ITS, automotive and other industries. Today the German company offers as well test services as test automation solutions predominantly to the regional markets, e.g. to big companies of ITC. Approved by the success at leading German network operators, company’s management plans to expand test automation solutions nation widely within the next two years. http://www.serviceforce-com.de

Spirent Communications is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent Communications’ solutions are used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,500 employees worldwide. Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent Communications’ sales to the United States government are made through Spirent Federal Systems Inc. www.spirentfederal.com Spirent, Spirent Communications and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved. This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Spirent Communication’s Holistic Testing Approach Prepares Enterprises for Dynamic, Terabit-Capacity Data Centers

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Data Center Testing Solutions Deliver the Industry’s Only Unified Layer 2-7 Test Architecture for High Performance Virtualized, Eco-Friendly Networks

Las Vegas - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in networks, services and devices testing, announces the industry’s first holistic approach to validating the performance of tomorrow’s dynamic data centers. This approach offers a unified Layer 2-7 test architecture specifically designed to test the end-to-end performance of 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet fabrics, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) convergence, virtualized server networking, cloud computing-based applications and security. Spirent was recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the leader in enterprise network test and measurement solutions for research and evaluation labs.

Tomorrow’s data centers are being designed around virtualized services and converged networks. These designs set new standards for network performance and scale, service availability, system security, application Quality of Experience (QoE) and power efficiency, which are only validated by a holistic test architecture. Trusted by the world’s leading network equipment manufactures, Spirent’s data center test architecture includes:

Spirent TestCenter™: An award winning modular layer 2-7 performance test platform, Spirent TestCenter validates Quality of Service (QoS) and QoE of converged data center networks including FCoE with Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) and Data Center Ethernet (DCE)
Spirent TestCenter™ Virtual: A Best of Interop Finalist for 2009, Spirent TestCenter Virtual extends the capabilities of Spirent TestCenter to measure the true performance impact of virtualized servers, switches and appliances in tomorrow’s data center networks
Spirent TestCenter Hypermetrics™: The award winning Spirent TestCenter Hypermetrics™, expands Spirent TestCenter performance to emulate the most realistic data center infrastructures with a multi-core, multi-dimensional HSE (10/40/100GbE) module that enables stateful, line-rate, layer 2-7 multi-play scalability at terabit capacities
Spirent TestCenter™ Avalanche: The market leading Spirent TestCenter Avalanche is designed to validate network security, server load balancing and WAN acceleration while loading the data center application services including the Storage Sub System with NFS and CIFS
Spirent TestCenter GreenPut™: An innovative approach, Spirent TestCenter GreenPut benchmarks the energy efficiency of deployed or soon-to-be deployed data center systems by measuring the throughput per watt of network elements, and calculating the power consumed under various traffic and session load
Spirent TestCenter NoCode™: A fourth-generation visual programming environment, Spirent TestCenter NoCode, enables every test engineer to develop meaningful and repeatable test cases that more easily and more quickly finds defects with fewer test runs
Spirent TestCenter™ OnDEMAND: By leveraging a team of testing experts working both on and off-site, Spirent TestCenter OnDEMAND validates all aspects of a data center to detect and mitigate performance, security, and scalability problems before the launch of new or advanced infrastructure and applications

“Market conditions are accelerating innovations around data center performance, scalability, security, and power efficiencies,” said Bill Burns, CEO at Spirent Communications. “Spirent’s holistic, unified test architecture enables today’s innovators to achieve their vision of building and deploying tomorrow’s dynamic data centers.”

Spirent’s holistic data center testing architecture will be on display at Interop 2009 at Spirent Booth #1051. The solutions will also be showcased at the Spirent Proof of Concept (SPoC) Labs and Collaboration Centers in Beijing, London and Sunnyvale. For more information visit www.spirent.com or follow Spirent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/spirentcomm.

About Spirent

Spirent Communications (www.spirent.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent Communications’ solutions are used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,500 employees worldwide.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent Communications’ sales to the United States government are made through Spirent Federal Systems Inc. www.spirentfederal.com

Spirent, Spirent Communications and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent OnDEMAND Data Center Testing Offers a Unified Suite of Services to Ensure Deployment of Green, High Availability Networks

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent’s Award Winning Solutions, Services Mitigate the Risk of Migration to New, Advanced Data Centers

Las Vegas - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in networks, services and device testing, is showcasing its Spirent OnDEMAND Data Center Testing service, a critical element of the industry’s first holistic approach to data center testing. Leveraging a team of testing experts working both on and off-site, Spirent validates all aspects of a data center to detect and mitigate performance, security, and scalability problems before the launch of new or advanced infrastructure and applications. Spirent was recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as theleader in enterprise network test and measurement solutions for research and evaluation labs.

Spirent’s OnDEMAND testing services enable data center operators to successfully navigate the complexities of advanced data center technologies by:

Delivering the industry’s most comprehensive suite of data center testing services which validate various aspects of these facilities such as networking, network security, storage, virtualization, cloud computing, collaboration and applications
Determining the energy efficiency of deployed or soon-to-be deployed data center systems which measure GreenPut™, the throughput per watt of network elements, and calculate the power consumed under various traffic and session load
Seamlessly applying independent testing criteria to a variety of deployment projects which include consolidating large underperforming networks to a single more efficient network with high resource utilization, extending the reach of the traditional data center into the cloud computing environment; and upgrading existing IT infrastructure to support new applications and proprietary enterprise solutions

“Today’s operators of enterprises and data centers are continually seeking ways to best optimize their existing IT infrastructure and related resources,” said Lucinda Borovick, research vice president for IDC’s data center network services. “Such efforts go hand-in-hand with realigning the cost of running these networks over time. As a result, the trend toward migrating to virtualized data centers helps to address these issues. But ultimate success hinges upon taking a holistic approach to understanding and assessing the networks performance not just today but in the future.”

The growing demand for collaboration applications and unified computing architectures is forcing CIOs and CTOs within enterprise organizations to evolve their data centers to more productive and cost-effective networks. With Spirent’s OnDEMAND services, data center operators can ensure the highest possible return on their infrastructure investment while reducing the cost of service down time by thoroughly testing performance against key metrics.

“The pressure to reduce the total cost of ownership associated with data center operations coupled with the strong focus on driving productivity and gaining a robust return on investment is increasing the demand for holistic solutions that help to meet these goals,” said Neil Anderson, vice president, Global Services at Spirent Communications. “With support from Spirent’s OnDEMAND services team, IT managers can significantly mitigate the potential cost of flawed network deployments by detecting performance problems that can lead to revenue loss, customer base erosion, and even brand damage.”

For more information on Spirent’s TestCenter OnDEMAND visit www.spirent.com/go/ondemand or follow Spirent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/spirentcomm.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Fortune 1000 Companies and Leading Network Equipment Manufacturers Turn to Spirent Communications for Enterprise Network Testing

Mon, 18 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Frost & Sullivan Research Declares Spirent as the Market Leader in Enterprise Network Test & Measurement Solutions for Research and Evaluation Labs

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in network, service and device testing, has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the leader in enterprise network test and measurement solutions for research and evaluation labs. According to Frost & Sullivan’s recent report that surveyed the enterprise network system testing and monitoring solutions market, Spirent maintained its leadership position with more the one-third of the market share in the research and evaluation lab segment.

This award validates Spirent’s commitment to delivering test solutions that address the technological innovations of today’s and tomorrow’s enterprise networks. Furthermore, it is a testament to customers’ trust in Spirent’s enterprise network test solutions suite. This award adds to Spirent’s long list of industry recognitions, market firsts and customer testimonials. Spirent is a trusted partner and test equipment vendor of choice for the world biggest network equipment manufacturers. Fortune 1000 companies as well as system vendors repeatedly turn to Spirent to architect best-in-class systems and networks for 10/40/100G Ethernet, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), virtualized and cloud computing based data centers and High Speed Ethernet (HSE) based applications.

“Spirent is clearly a pioneer in the enterprise testing space with a wide range of solutions that enable the validation of advanced data centers before deployment,” said Olga Yashkova, industry analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “Its foray into virtualization comes at a time when the operators of data centers are seeking ways to operate more efficiently and more cost-effectively. Spirent’s efforts allow enterprises and equipment vendors alike to achieve their goals while reducing their long-term operating and capital costs.”

Spirent’s professional services team, previously recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the industry’s best, coupled with a portfolio of award-winning products including Spirent TestCenter™, Spirent HyperMetrics™, Spirent TestCenter Virtual and Spirent Avalanche delivers a unique holistic approach to data center testing. The company’s ability to bring ground-breaking technologies to the market such as the recently announced Spirent TestCenter™ Virtual remains at the heart of this market recognition.

“Spirent’s continued position as the world leader in the test and measurement market is a result of our commitment to delivering solutions that enable our customers to successfully develop products and services that are not only technologically superior, but offer the highest return on their investment” said Bill Burns, CEO of Spirent Communications. “I am honored to accept this prestigious award as it validates our investment into creating innovative products that advance enterprise networking and data center technologies.”

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 35 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Advances Virtualization and Cloud Computing with Data Center Performance Testing

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter ™ Virtual is the Industry’s First Single Application Solution to Benchmark Layer 2-7 Performance Across All Elements of a Data Center

Sunnyvale, Calif. - In response to the growing challenges of deploying high-performance advanced data centers, Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leader in networks, services and devices testing, today introduced Spirent TestCenter™ Virtual, the industry’s first solution specifically designed to holistically validate the performance of all elements of the data center and cloud computing environments including virtual machines (VM), servers and storage devices. Spirent will demonstrate Spirent TestCenter Virtual at Interop 2009 at Booth #1051.

Nominated as a finalist for Best of Interop 2009 Award in the Performance Optimization category, Spirent TestCenter Virtual is a software solution that extends the capabilities of the Spirent TestCenter platform to test the performance of a virtualized data center’s elements and physical network resources. Spirent TestCenter Virtual is the industry’s only solution to:

Conduct line rate layer 2-7 performance testing of virtual and physical network resources by emulating VLANs, multicast and FCoE traffic along with stateful application protocols
Measure key layer 2 performance metrics such as throughput, frame loss and latency between virtual and physical network elements including network-to-VM, VM-to-network and VM-to-VM
Deliver a unified testing architecture that ensures full compatibility with any Spirent TestCenter interface including the award-winning Spirent Hypermetrics for accurate, high performance FPGA hardware generated network traffic

For data center system vendors delivering the benefits of virtualization to enterprises and service providers, Spirent TestCenter™ Virtual delivers the power to architect high performance data center systems, mitigate risks of migration or consolidation of existing IT infrastructure, minimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) of testing resources and optimize infrastructure utilization by testing performance in a multitude of real-world scenarios.

Leading industry analysts agree that equipment vendors as well as data centers operators need to take a holistic approach to ensure success in a today’s hypercompetitive and economically challenging business environment.

“Enterprise demand for virtualization is strong, and equipment vendors need to make sure that their offerings support virtual and cloud based application delivery,” said Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst, enterprise, voice and data, Infonetics Research. “Having a complete set of virtualization testing tools, such as those found in the Spirent TestCenter Virtual, which includes network, server, VM and storage testing, is a necessity in preparing IT infrastructure for today and tomorrow’s demanding data centers environments.”

“System vendors are under significant pressure to deliver best-in-class solutions while reducing product development costs and test cycle times,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Converged Core Solutions group at Spirent Communication. “Therefore, there is an increasing demand for holistic solutions that help to achieve those goals. At the end of the day, network architects and engineers who rely on Spirent TestCenter Virtual are able to adopt a unified approach to developing virtualized and cloud-based data center systems.”

The solution will also be showcased at the Spirent Proof of Concept (SPoC) Labs and Collaboration Centers in Beijing, London and Sunnyvale. For more information on Spirent TestCenter Virtual (www.spirent.com/go/stcv) and other Spirent TestCenter solutions visit www.spirent.com/go/stc or follow Spirent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/spirentcomm.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Extends Market Leadership in A-GPS Over-the-Air Testing through Collaboration with SATIMO

Mon, 11 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent ULTS and PLTS Now Supported by SATIMO’s SAM™ Antenna Measurement Software

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in mobile device, application and wireless network testing, today announced that SATIMO’s SAM™ Antenna Measurement Software now supports Spirent’s UMTS Location Test System (ULTS) and CDMA Position Location Test System (PLTS) for A-GPS Over-the-Air (OTA) testing. SATIMO is a leading supplier of high speed-antenna measurement systems, including multi-probe antenna measurement solutions for mobile telecommunication equipment.

The combined solution of Spirent’s A-GPS test implementation and SATIMO’s multi-probe antenna measurement system advances the development and testing of A-GPS enabled mobile devices in several important ways as it:

Extends the capability of SATIMO’s existing cellular OTA solutions to include GPS antenna performance
Delivers greater accuracy and reliability to A-GPS testing
Provides support for multiple air interface technologies including GSM, W-CDMA and CDMA
Enables the testing of A-GPS enabled devices in full compliance with the 3.0 release of the CTIA’s Test Plan for Mobile Station Over-the-Air Performance which was published in early May

“Offering an integrated solution with SATIMO gives Spirent tremendous leverage in supporting the segment of the market with the most advanced A-GPS OTA testing needs,” said Ron Borsato, solutions architect at Spirent Communications, who also chairs the CTIA’s GPS OTA Subgroup. “SATIMO has a market-leading multi-probe antenna testing features that can take measurements with multiple antennas almost simultaneously. This enables our solution to be extended to customers looking to test a higher volume of devices or to those who need advanced test capabilities beyond CTIA Test Plan coverage.”

As highlighted in a recent Spirent white paper entitled “A-GPS Over-the-Air Test Method: Business and Technology Implications,” poor GPS antenna performance often leads to a disappointing user experience of location-based services (LBS) and can reflect negatively on an operator’s revenue. However, adding a GPS antenna to a densely-packed mobile device form factor can be a major challenge. Because the industry’s existing certification standards for A-GPS do not include OTA testing, GPS antenna performance issues are not always caught prior to commercial deployment. This has led the CTIA to broaden the scope of its existing Test Plan for Mobile Station Over-the-Air Performance to include A-GPS.

Built upon the expertise gained from Spirent’s PLTS which was introduced into the CDMA market in 2001, the ULTS is the first commercially-available UMTS A-GPS test system. Since then, most of the world’s largest network operators, together with all the major mobile device and A-GPS chipset manufacturers, have relied on the Spirent ULTS and PLTS products to design, test and certify their LBS solutions. For more information please visit www.spirent.com/go/ults and www.spirent.com/go/plts.

About SATIMO

SATIMO specializes in the design and manufacturing of antenna measurement systems, including OTA measurement solutions for mobile telecommunication equipment. The company has moved antenna measurement techniques forward with a unique, innovative multi-probe technology. The technology is based on the use of arrays of probes that are electronically scanned to measure almost instantaneously electromagnetic fields. SATIMO is part of Microwave Vision SA, which includes ORBIT/FR and AEMI, and offers full turnkey systems to measure a stand alone antenna or antennas integrated into complex structures.

Additional information about SATIMO is available at www.satimo.com.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications plc, Interim Management Statement (Unaudited)

Thu, 07 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, announces the following unaudited Interim Management Statement for the period since 31 December 2008.

Trading performance for the period since 31 December 2008 is slightly ahead of the Board’s expectations.

The results for the first quarter of 2009 are set out below:

Results Summary

£ million	1st quarter 2009	1st quarter 2008
Revenue	71.6	59.0
Operating profit	11.5	9.6
Earnings per share (basic) - pence	1.43	1.22

Earnings include a charge of 0.05 pence per share for share-based payment and amortisation of intangible assets (first quarter 2008: 0.08 pence). Cost reduction actions in the first quarter of 2009 will result in £8.5 million of annualised savings, the cost of which, £0.8 million, has been expensed in the period.

Performance Analysis

Revenue for the division in the first quarter of 2009 was £53.0 million compared with £43.2 million in the first quarter of 2008 and operating profit was £10.0 million compared with £7.9 million. Revenue expressed in US dollars, was $76.3 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared with $85.5 million for the first quarter of 2008. It is currently anticipated that revenues for the second quarter will increase sequentially due to seasonal factors, but that they will decrease year-on-year in US dollars as occurred in the first quarter.

Service Assurance and Systems

Revenues and profits were in line with our expectations.

Cash

Free cash flow¹ for the first quarter of 2009 was £17.4 million (first quarter 2008: £1.3 million). This resulted in an increase in the net cash position to £77.1 million at 29 March 2009 from £59.7 million at 31 December 2008. There were no share repurchases in the period.

Outlook

Whilst market conditions remain uncertain, we anticipate that the Company’s performance for the remainder of the year will continue to be in line with our expectations.

Bill Burns, Chief Executive, commented:

“Market conditions were generally as expected. A favourable US dollar:sterling exchange rate, improved margins resulting from a favourable mix of new products, and continuing expense control offset the impact of lower revenues in US dollar terms on operating profit.

“We are pleased at the level of profits reported in our seasonally weakest quarter. Our new product introductions for wireless and broadband test solutions will position Spirent well to serve the needs of our markets for the rest of this year and beyond.”

Note
1 Operating cash flow after tax, net interest and net capital expenditure.

Enquiries

William Burns, Chief Executive Officer	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767684
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

The Company’s AGM is being held today at 10.30am UK time at the offices of the Company’s PR Advisers, Financial Dynamics, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1PB.

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications and University of Nottingham Collaborate to Advance Multi-GNSS Technology

Thu, 07 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Delivers Satellite Navigation Signal Test and Simulation Capabilities for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Paignton and Nottingham, UK - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, and the GNSS Research and Applications Centre of Excellence (GRACE), part of University of Nottingham’s Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy (IESSG), have expanded their already strong relationship to further advance the facility’s satellite navigation signal test and simulation capabilities. This collaboration provides GRACE users access to a world-class Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) research laboratory and associated training services, an unsurpassed GNSS applications development environment and exceptional GNSS simulation, test-bed and testing facilities.

GRACE will use the advanced Spirent GSS8000 multi-GNSS hardware simulation system to simulate current and future GPS signals at L1, L2 and L5 frequencies, Galileo E1, E5 and E6 signals, and WAAS and EGNOS Space Based Augmentation System signals. The test system, which includes a two chassis, 16 channel GSS8000 system controlled by Spirent’s SimGEN software, is one of the first to be delivered in the United Kingdom.

“This sophisticated Spirent solution enables GRACE to advance research activity in numerous application domains to prepare for the forthcoming GNSS signals,” said Professor Terry Moore, head of the GRACE facility.

The new simulation system will be available to small and medium enterprises (SME) seeking to develop or test new applications. Providing access to the latest GNSS test facilities can be a major benefit to SMEs and it is anticipated that the system will build on GRACE’s growing reputation in the field of GNSS research and development.

“Spirent has a long-term relationship with IESSG / GRACE and we are very pleased to be providing one of our multi-GNSS simulators to support this important new facility” said John Pottle, marketing director of Spirent’s positioning technology division. “We look forward to continuing our work with Professor Moore and his team to support the research activities that the simulation system will enable.”

About the GNSS Research and Applications Centre of Excellence (GRACE)

The GNSS Research and Applications Centre of Excellence (GRACE) is a collaboration between the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) and the University of Nottingham.

GRACE provides regional, national and international business with access to world-leading facilities that include customised incubation units, project offices, state of the art testing equipment, secure research & development laboratories and dedicated training suites.

About Spirent

Spirent Communications (www.spirent.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent Communications’ solutions are used by more than 1,700 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,500 employees worldwide.

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

CTTL Selects Spirent Communications for Mobile Terminal Signaling Conformance Testing

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent C2K-ATS SC Test System Delivers Signaling Conformance and Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM) Testing

Beijing, China - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced that China Telecommunication Technology Labs (CTTL) has selected Spirent’s C2K-ATS SC system for mobile phone signaling conformance and Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM) testing.

With the Spirent C2K-ATS SC system, CTTL can now execute comprehensive CDMA mobile phone certification and validation at for signaling and R-UIM. “Since the issuance of 3G licenses and the launch of EV-DO networks in China, signaling conformance and R-UIM testing in real networks has became critical,” said Zhang Xiang, director of wireless communication at CTTL.

“With the Spirent C2K-ATS SC system, we have superior mobile phone testing capabilities to provide reliable certification and validation services which ultimately ensure the delivery of high quality services to wireless subscribers. We look forward to working closely with Spirent in the future as mobile communication technologies evolve.”

C2K-ATS SC enables the effective signaling conformance and interoperability testing of 3G CDMA devices and has the ability to operate in multiple band classes and radio configurations. The fully integrated C2K-ATS SC test system automates test execution to enable many scenarios to be run in a relatively short time. This approach reduces the required level of valuable engineering resources necessary for conducting test strategy execution.

“The relationship with CTTL proves Spirent’s commitment to support China’s mobile communication industry and its evolution to 3G,” said Peter Tan, senior director of Greater China at Spirent Communications. “Our automated signaling conformance test solution for CDMA greatly improves CTTL’s test efficiency and accuracy.”

About CTTL

China Telecommunication Technology Labs (CTTL), founded in 1981, was named under the authorization of the China Academy of Telecommunication Research (CATR) of the Ministry of Information Industry (MII),and the State General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ), It is a leading high-tech laboratory on the combined missions of telecommunication technology development, telecommunication product standards and test methods research, telecommunication metrology standards and methods research, products inspection, verification and technical assessment as well as testing instruments metrology and evaluation of communication software.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Brings the Real World into the Wireless Test Lab

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Flexible ‘Virtual Drive Test’ and ‘Fading Lab’ Features Deliver Cost Efficiencies over Field Testing

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in wireless infrastructure, devices and application testing, today introduced Virtual Drive Test and Fading Lab functionality on Spirent’s SR5500 Wireless Channel Emulator, the award-winning solution for wireless receiver performance testing. Virtual Drive Test allows rapid re-creation of RF conditions to bring real-world field testing of mobile devices into the lab. Fading Lab enables the creation or replay of highly-detailed, advanced radio environments from a wide range of data sources.

Wireless operators and manufacturers traditionally rely on fleets of drivers to perform mobile field testing, also referred to as drive testing, to verify the operational and performance capabilities of mobile devices and services. This approach is neither repeatable nor cost-efficient.

“Virtual Drive Test reduces the amount of physical field testing required in a product’s life cycle resulting in significant cost savings,” said Rob VanBrunt, vice president of Spirent’s CDMA and Physical Layer market segment. “It also offers some clear technical advantages over field testing, enabling the same precise scenario to be repeated across multiple test runs, eliminating much of the uncertainty inherent to field testing.”

Virtual Drive Test uses Spirent’s exclusive Dynamic Environment Emulation (DEE) feature to provide a more rigorous and sustainable alternative. Virtual Drive Test generates a set of controlled dynamic RF channels based on channel parameter data. Complex radio mobility scenarios can be created without deploying scores of vans, and the RF environment remains consistent between test iterations.

Spirent’s new Fading Lab supplements the SR5500’s existing real-time engine with a new “Fading Data Playback” engine. The Fading Lab engine converts data into a sample-accurate wireless RF environment. The Fading Lab’s universal interface accepts data from a wide range of sources including channel-sounding tools and software packages. Virtually any mathematical or ray-tracing software package can be used to synthesize the input data, as can custom software packages or scripts. The text-based template allows the user to create any customized fading model imaginable.

“For wireless operators and device manufacturers, the Spirent SR5500 has been there to eliminate the risk of missing a critical RF issue.” added VanBrunt. “Now Fading Lab’s flexibility eliminates the risk of running up against a channel model your equipment can’t address.”

The Fading Lab includes Fading Studio, a software package that creates advanced channel scenarios for testing MIMO and other multiple-antenna systems. These already include Spatial Channel Models (SCMs/SCMEs), with models defined by the European Wireless World Initiative New Radio (WINNER) consortium to follow shortly.

Demonstrations of the Spirent SR5500 and the company’s wide range of other wireless device, application and infrastructure testing solutions will be showcased at Booth #744 at CTIA Wireless 2009, April 1-3 in Las Vegas. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/sr5500

About Spirent

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Announces Powerful New Options for Mobile WiMAX and LTE Testing

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced new packaged configurations targeted at WiMAX and LTE developers. These new high-value packages support bi-directional Multiple-In, Multiple-Out (MIMO) and beamforming testing on the industry leading Spirent SR5500 Wireless Channel Emulator, which is used for testing wireless receivers.

MIMO and beamforming are crucial aspects of next-generation wireless technologies. Both techniques use multiple antenna configurations to increase data rates, decrease operational costs, increase range or steer signals toward areas of high user density.

Spirent’s flexible SR5500 platform lets mobile network operators, equipment manufacturers and device manufacturers reduce the complexity associated with WiMAX and LTE testing while improving the accuracy of test results. With these new Spirent SR5500 configurations, users can quickly and accurately validate the performance of even the most complex MIMO and beamforming implementations. The new configurations also feature Spirent’s exclusive Dynamic Environment Emulation (DEE) to perform a lab-based equivalent of mobility drive testing, including the scenarios recommended by the WiMAX Forum. Unlike drive-testing on live networks, Spirent’s DEE offers repeatability and the flexibility to design and execute custom scenarios.

“By utilizing our unique configurable, modular building blocks and DEE features, our customers can quickly construct complex MIMO test beds with a single user interface to accurately characterize the performance gains of beamforming,” said Rob VanBrunt, vice president of marketing at Spirent. “These capabilities have made us the price-performance leaders, which is why the Spirent SR5500 is used by the top five WiMAX chipset vendors, infrastructure vendors and the leading WiMAX operators worldwide.”

Based on decades of wireless leadership, the Spirent SR5500 provides the industry’s cleanest test channel and most accurate fading. Unlike purpose-built channel emulators, the Spirent SR5500 supports multiple emerging next-generation technologies. In addition to support for the new 700 MHz and 2.7 GHz bands, the SR5500 also offers fully independent RF channels for widely spaced Frequency-Division Duplexing (FDD) WiMAX applications. The advanced fading engine ensures accurate testing of sophisticated technologies such as HSPA, EV-DO, E-UTRA (LTE) and WiMAX.

RGB Networks Overcomes IPTV Complexities With Advanced Video Test Solutions From Spirent Communications

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter Hypermetrics Provides Network Video Processing Leader with Unsurpassed Realism, Performance and Scalability

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in network testing, today announced that RGB Networks, the leader in network video processing, selected the award-winning Spirent TestCenter™ platform to facilitate the testing of RGB’s IPTV solutions. Additionally, RGB chose the Spirent TestCenter Hypermetrics™ Application Performance module to conduct the industry’s highest performance Layer 4-7, security and vulnerability assessment tests.

The emergence of IP video solutions and services over traditional telco and cable networks and over the Internet through services such Netflix, Hulu.com, YouTube and others has increased level of complexity associated with testing related equipment. Many test systems, unable to accommodate the needs of equipment manufacturers, impact the ability to ship products on time. Fortunately, RGB Networks understood that Spirent could help to tackle these challenges.

“Spirent’s solutions allow us to conduct tests in a realistic network and user environment with a unique mix of traffic while reducing the time associated with successfully completing such efforts,” said Charles Corablis, vice president of Engineering, RGB Networks. “Unlike other products, Spirent addresses port density, high performance and critical aspect of realism required to ensure the highest Quality of Experience (QoE) for IPTV services.”

The high density, multi-core architecture of Spirent TestCenter Hypermetrics provides RGB Networks with scalability and performance along with the capability to reallocate processing power to conduct the complex testing associated with IPTV. The emphasis on performance and application realism rather than just port density enables test engineers to invest in a single solution for all their testing needs while reducing capital expenses and operating within the constraints of limited budgets.

“While there are other products on the market, RGB Networks’ decision to use Spirent test equipment demonstrates the value and unsurpassed capabilities we bring to the table,” said Ahmed Murad, general manager, Multimedia Applications Solutions Group at, Spirent Communications. “By continuing to deliver the most complete set of offerings, we help enable companies such as RGB to introduce technologically advanced solutions that are not only reliable but rich in features and functionality.”

Communications industry leaders also depend on multi-functional, comprehensive solutions from Spirent to help ensure that the multi-play networks and multi-technology platforms of tomorrow deliver the QoE which service providers demand today. Testing the converged network is a strategic imperative for service providers and network equipment manufacturers to reduce churn and increase revenue potential.

Spirent offers others modules for its TestCenter platform including the Hypermetrics Converged (CV) and Hypermetrics Converged Multi-play (CM). These modules, along with Hypermetrics AP, support a robust and scalable test platform with a flexible user experience for conducting end-to-end Layer 2-7 multi-play testing at gigabit or 10gigabit line rates.

Demonstration of Spirent TestCenter family of solutions can be viewed at Booth #202 at IPTV World Forum, London, March 25 -27. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/hypermetrics

About RGB Networks

RGB Networks delivers extremely high-density, flexible video processing solutions that enable video service providers to deliver highly targeted and personalized video content at considerably lower costs than conventional solutions. Based on its unique Video Intelligence Architecture™ (VIA), RGB’s VIA product family simplifies management and delivers scalable, multi-function capability in a single, programmable platform, allowing video service providers to leverage existing infrastructure, while building an advanced foundation to meet the needs of the rapidly growing market for personalized video services. For more information about RGB Networks and its unique video processing solutions, please visit www.rgbnetworks.com

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Introduces an Integrated Solution for New CTIA A-GPS Over The Air Test Standard

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent ULTS Now Supported by ETS-Lindgren’s EMQuest Antenna Measurement Software

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in mobile device, application and wireless network testing, today announced that ETS-Lindgren’s EMQuest™ Antenna Measurement Software now supports Spirent’s UMTS Location Test System (ULTS). ETS-Lindgren is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of enclosed Radio Frequency (RF) chambers and antenna measurement solutions for wireless test applications.

This new capability will enable wireless device manufacturers to quickly and easily add Spirent’s market-leading A-GPS instrumentation to ETS-Lindgren’s over the air (OTA) wireless test solutions, streamlining efforts to meet emerging standards for wireless device A-GPS performance. The combined offering of Spirent’s A-GPS instrumentation and ETS-Lindgren’s OTA test facilities, antennas, and EMQuest software provide wireless device manufacturers with the ability to test their products in compliance with the upcoming 3.0 release of the CTIA’s Test Plan for Mobile Station Over the Air Performance. The requirements of this new release will become mandatory at all CTIA Authorized Test Labs that perform OTA testing.

“We are delighted that the Spirent ULTS solution is now supported by ETS-Lindgren. It is a natural step to link Spirent’s market leadership in A-GPS testing with ETS-Lindgren’s leadership in wireless OTA test solutions,” said Ron Borsato, solutions architect at Spirent Communications, who also chairs the CTIA’s GPS OTA Subgroup. “The large percentage of CTIA Authorized Test Labs that use ETS-Lindgren’s OTA solutions for testing GSM and UMTS devices now have a straightforward upgrade path to add A-GPS OTA support.”

Poor GPS antenna performance often leads to a disappointing user experience of location-based services (LBS) which can reflect negatively on operators’ revenues. However, adding a GPS antenna to a densely-packed mobile device form factor can be a major challenge. Because the industry’s existing certification standards for A-GPS do not include OTA testing, performance issues due to the GPS antenna are not always caught prior to commercial deployment. This has led the CTIA to broaden the scope of its existing Test Plan for Mobile Station Over the Air Performance to include A-GPS.

Built upon the expertise gained from Spirent’s Position Location Test System (PLTS), launched into the CDMA market in 2001, the ULTS was the first commercially-available UMTS A-GPS test system. Since then, most of the world’s largest network operators, together with all the major mobile device and A-GPS chipset manufacturers, have relied on the Spirent ULTS to design, test and certify their LBS solutions.

Demonstrations of Spirent ULTS and other wireless device, application and infrastructure testing solutions from Spirent will be held at Booth #744 at CTIA Wireless 2009, April 1-3, Las Vegas, NV. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/ults.

About ETS-Lindgren

ETS-Lindgren is an international manufacturer of components and systems that measure, shield, and control electromagnetic and acoustic energy. The company’s products are used for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), microwave, wireless and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing, electromagnetic field (EMF) measurement, radio frequency (RF) personal safety monitoring, and control of acoustic environments. Headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas, ETS-Lindgren has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESCO Technologies, a leading supplier of engineered products for growing industrial and commercial markets. ESCO is a New York Stock Exchange listed company (symbol ESE) with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Additional information about ETS-Lindgren is available at www.ets-lindgren.com. Additional information about ESCO and its subsidiaries is available at www.escotechnologies.com.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Core180 Selects Spirent Communications for Service Assurance Testing

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Managed Service Provider Utilizes Spirent REACT for Network Service Assessment and Remote Diagnostic Capabilities

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, announced that Core180 has selected Spirent to support its platform which provides managed last-mile access services to large network operators. Core180, a leading network integration company in North America, will use Spirent REACT® Test Management Operations Support System (OSS) to reduce operating costs, improve network reliability and boost customer satisfaction.

With Spirent REACT, Core180 can now streamline DS1 and DS3 testing and conduct remote testing on a single platform. The network integrator will also take advantage of Spirent’s training and administrative service program in an effort to best utilize the service assurance solution.

“Our ability to leverage REACT and its capabilities have enhanced our service offerings and customer experience,” said Robert Burris, sr. vice president of engineering at Core180. “We look forward to working closely with Spirent to best address our growing needs over time.”

Spirent REACT supports technologies such as analog special services, DS1/E1/DS3/E3, high-speed DSL and optical SONET networks in the world’s largest and most complex data and voice networks. It provides an integrated service view with the ability to automate complex test strategies through expert dialogs, enabling providers to mainstream complex services. REACT’s multiple software modules and distributed architecture provide the basis for scalable solutions integrating visibility across technology layers, vendors and networks.

“We’re excited to work closely with Core180 as it continuously seeks to deliver the most reliable telecom services to large enterprises, system integrators and government agencies as well as facility and non-facility based carriers,” said John Cunningham, vice president of service assurance at Spirent Communications. “Spirent looks forward to not only serving Core180’s testing needs today but providing scalable solutions that meet the company’s future requirements.”

For more information please visit http://www.spirent.com/go/react

About Core180

Core180 (www.core180.com) utilizes its own proprietary platform to develop purpose-built networks for customers. These solutions allow users to better leverage their carrier vendors and enable choice and flexibility in the “last mile” access solutions. The company serves large enterprises, system integrators, government agencies as well as facility and non-facility based telecommunications carriers. Core180 is headquartered in Metro New York (Hoboken, N.J.) with operations in the Washington, D.C. region (Fairfax, Va.).

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications plc, Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2008

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, today announces its preliminary results for the financial year ended 31 December 2008.

Results summary – continuing operations

£ million	2008	2007	Change (%)	Underlying change at constant currency (%)
Reported
Revenue	257.9	237.0	9	2
Profit before tax	49.6	17.8	179
Basic earnings per share (pence)	10.13	2.97	241
Total dividend per share (pence)	1.1	-
Adjusted
Operating profit¹	48.7	25.5	91	80
Profit before tax¹	51.4	32.2	60
Adjusted earnings² per share(pence)	6.24	3.57	75

Notes
1 Before exceptional items.
2 Adjusted earnings per share is based on adjusted earnings as set out in note 5, being before exceptional items and prior year tax credits.

Group highlights

Adjusted earnings per share up 75% to 6.24p (2007: 3.57p) after charging 0.30p for share-based payment and amortisation of intangibles (2007: 0.38p)
Adjusted operating profit up 91% to £48.7m (2007: £25.5m)
Increase in operating return on sales to 18.9% (2007: 10.8%)
Cash flows from operations up 22% to £53.4m (2007: £43.8m)
Total order intake in January 2009 for the Group is level year-on-year in constant currency, with Performance Analysis being down by 10%
Annualised cost reduction of £8.2 million implemented in the first quarter of 2009

Edward Bramson, Chairman commented:

“During 2008, Spirent introduced new, innovative products and lowered its cost base, resulting in a stronger financial position overall. These factors, with the benefit of current exchange rates and the substantially reduced number of shares in issue, will result in relative resilience in earnings and cash generation.

“Spirent enters this year well placed to face the uncertainties of the market.”

Enquiries

William Burns, Chief Executive Officer	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

The Company will host a results presentation today at 09.15 for 09.30 UK time at RBS, 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AA. A simultaneous webcast of the presentation will be available in the Investors section of the Spirent Communications plc website at www.spirent.com .

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of testing and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as Ethernet, triple play, wireless, satellite positioning, web applications and security. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

Leading US Service Providers Depend on Spirent Communications to Successfully Deliver Ethernet-Based Business Solutions

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

One-of-a-Kind Offering Ensures Quality of Service and Quality of Experience Levels, Helps Control Operating Expenses

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, announced that three top-tier US telecommunications network operators recently selected the Spirent SmartSight™ and QoS Scope solutions to quickly and efficiently introduce new revenue generating Ethernet-based business services. Spirent is enabling this trio of service providers to better manage their operational and capital expenses while meeting the necessary Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) levels essential to win in today’s competitive marketplace.

The migration from traditional TDM access to Ethernet-based business and wireless backhaul networks makes the provisioning and maintenance of wholesale, business, and residential consumer services increasingly more complex. Spirent’s Ethernet customers are under pressure to meet and exceed the stringent quality of service demands, particularly from their enterprise users while keeping operating expenses in check as Ethernet services, network architectures, and service and delivery configurations proliferate. In addition, consumers’ expectations are forcing service providers to offer high performance data and video services that meet QoS and QoE levels expected from subscribers.
“The ability to ensure network quality prior to service activation is a huge advantage,” said John Cunningham, president, Service Assurance Broadband group at Spirent Communications. “Spirent remains the only company delivering an Ethernet testing solution that allows carriers to rapidly launch new services as well as decisively troubleshoot potential issues once a network is live and operating.”

Spirent is an established leader in Ethernet systems and services testing within the service provider and network equipment vendor lab environment. By leveraging the Ethernet testing expertise from the lab into the field, Spirent ensures that customers are able to better diagnose and troubleshoot the complex technology issues related to delivering Ethernet services over converged networks. This effort then allows service providers to focus on expanding their competitive footprint. This approach coupled with Spirent’s commitment to introducing advanced Ethernet solutions makes it the testing partner of choice for the three carrier customers.

All three carriers implemented Spirent’s market leading, SmartSight and QoE Scope solutions to streamline service deployments and achieve critical business objectives. Spirent’s solution is uniquely positioned to address carrier class business service offerings with a proven test platform producing a competitive advantage. It allows service providers to outperform their competition utilizing fewer resources per Ethernet line in service. The improved service response capability reduces “customer churn” in this volatile marketplace, maintains up sell potential to higher speeds and more exotic services, and improves existing revenue retention while increasing new revenue potential. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/smartsight

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications and IneoQuest Join Forces to Improve Video Quality for Network Equipment Manufacturers

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Exclusive NEM Technology Partnership Delivers Most Advanced Video Quality Test Suite Available

Sunnyvale, Calif. and Mansfield, Mass., - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the global leader in network testing and IneoQuest Technologies, Inc., the leading global supplier video quality solutions today announced that they have entered into a technology agreement. This exclusive global partnership will offer the industry’s only end-to-end video quality test suite that allows network equipment manufactures (NEMs) to ensure that their solutions provide the highest possible Quality of Experience (QoE).

“Broadcast and streaming video services over both traditional cable and satellite networks, and over the Internet through services such as YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix, present complex quality issues that can severely impact QoE, costing service providers billions of dollars in operational expenses,” said Jeff Heynen, directing analyst, Broadband and Video at Infonetics Research. “As a result, service providers are demanding that NEMs thoroughly test products to accommodate the unique and sensitive requirements of video delivery.”

The Spirent/IneoQuest technology partnership will specifically help NEMs to effectively address IP network scalability and reliability issues related to video delivery. Together, the companies will deliver the most innovative and comprehensive test solution that enables equipment manufacturers to improve the quality of their Triple Play solutions. Spirent’s market-leading deep and rich network testing suite when combined with the power of IneoQuest’s bulk, live video test and analysis solutions, covers the entire Triple Play ecosystem, including encoders, multiplexers, routers, switches and set-top boxes.

"Our customers depend on Spirent to help ensure that the multi-play networks and multi-technology platforms of tomorrow deliver the QoE which service providers demand today,” said William Burns, CEO of Spirent Communications plc. “This technology partnership with IneoQuest builds on the Spirent tradition of product innovation and service excellence as it enables us to offer equipment manufacturers the only end-to-end solution that brings realistic video quality testing into the lab.”

“IneoQuest is committed to helping video service providers improve the reliability of their video systems,” said Marc Todd, president and CEO of IneoQuest. “Our solutions deliver monitoring of live video in deployed systems while providing realistic video test and measurement metrics to equipment manufacturers, enabling them to evaluate the performance of network elements and systems before deployment. The combined Spirent and IneoQuest solution delivers the most comprehensive product suite for testing and measuring Triple Play deployments available.”

About Spirent

Spirent is the preferred testing partner of Triple Play/IPTV equipment manufacturers and service providers worldwide. IneoQuest serves customers in the cable, telecom and satellite markets in several countries and is a member of the Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) partner ecosystem. The global partnership increases the depth and the reach of both companies to serve the equipment manufacturer market.

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Demonstrates Expertise for MPLS and Ethernet Testing at EANTC Interoperability Event

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent Solutions Benchmark Next-Generation Converged Networks against Realistic, Accurate Performance Metrics

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in network and services testing, today announced its participation in the EANTC (European Advanced Networking Test Center) interoperability showcase of MPLS and Ethernet solutions. Specifically, Spirent TestCenter™ as well as Spirent GEM Network and Impairment Emulators provided realistic and accurate performance metrics during extensive testing scenarios among multiple equipment manufacturers. The interoperability event was conducted in EANTC’s labs in Berlin, Germany and results are featured at a demonstration alongside the MPLS & Ethernet World Congress this week in Paris.

“In an increasingly advanced and complex technology arena, service providers expect a high level of multi-vendor interoperability,” said Carsten Rossenhoevel, Managing Director at EANTC. “As a result, we welcome the experience and expertise of testing industry leaders such as Spirent to deliver the realistic end-to-end test scenarios constructed during our interoperability tests.”

With a long history of providing Ethernet testing solutions that offer the realistic testing scenarios required to ensure Quality of Experience (QoE), Spirent continues to demonstrate why leading network equipment manufacturers and service providers demand its offerings. To meet the requirement of next generation services, carriers must measure Layer 4-7 applications realistically in addition to testing the Quality of Service (QoS) at the Layer 2-3 level to meet stipulated Service Level Agreements.

The recent activity in Berlin included the testing of IPv6 Virtual Private Networks, E-Tree service based on MPLS virtual private LAN Services and inter-carrier solutions as well as pre-standard implementations of the MPLS Transport Profile. Multi-vendor interoperability of Ethernet Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) performance management technology verified the service availability, latency, jitter and any packet loss continuously in service. Those same tests are being demonstrated at the MPLS & Ethernet World Congress.

“Offering a robust and scalable test platform with a flexible user experience for conducting end-to-end Layer 2-7 testing at Gigabit or 10Gigabit line rates allows our customers to succeed,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Converged Core Solutions group at Spirent Communications. “We enable test engineers to invest in the most complete solution for their entire testing requirements ultimately aiding in the reduction of capital expenses while staying within limited operational budgets.”

Communications industry leaders such as Brocade and Alcatel-Lucent depend on multi-functional, comprehensive solutions from Spirent to help ensure that the multi-play networks and multi-technology platforms of tomorrow deliver the QoE which service providers demand today. Testing the converged network is a strategic imperative for service providers and network equipment manufacturers to reduce churn and increase revenue potential.

Demonstration of Spirent solutions including Spirent TestCenter and Spirent GEM Network and Impairment Emulators are available at Spirent’s Proof of Concept (SPOC) Lab and collaboration centers in Sunnyvale, London and Beijing. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/stc.

About EANTC

The European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) offers vendor-neutral consultancy and test facilities for network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprise customers. Primary business areas include interoperability, conformance and performance testing for Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS and Triple Play technologies and applications. For more information, contact Carsten Rossenhoevel, Managing Director, at +49.30.3180595-0 or via email at cross@eantc.com. http://www.eantc.com

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Signals Research Group Report Finds Dramatic Differences in 3G Chipset and Handset Performance Using Spirent Communications Test System

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Tests Using Spirent 8100 System Reveal Critical Results in First Independent Test of Its Kind

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) and Signals Research Group, LLC (SRG) today announced the findings of the industry’s only independent HSPA chipset data performance benchmark and mobile handset call reliability tests, run on a Spirent 8100 Mobile Device Test System. Results of the tests led SRG to conclude that there remains a wide variation of data performance capability across the HSPA chipset supplier base, with performance differences in excess of 30 percent between two similarly configured chipsets when more challenging network conditions exist. The results also revealed dramatic differences in the ability to reliably make and maintain a voice call across commercially-launched 3G handsets despite the fact that all devices in the call reliability tests had passed the industry-standard conformance testing necessary for certification.

“For the HSPA data performance benchmark test, we used the Spirent 8100 to subject all the devices and chipsets to the exact same sets of network conditions, automatically repeating each test multiple times to generate statistically significant, objective results,” said Michael Thelander, CEO, Signals Research Group. “Based on our analysis of the data, one baseband chipset solution emerged as the clear performance leader, outperforming all other solutions in 10 of the 12 more challenging network scenarios which involved fading. The results clearly illustrate that testing chipset and device performance beyond minimum certification requirements uncovers performance differences which can significantly impact a subscriber’s satisfaction with a particular device.”

SRG’s call reliability tests analyzed the ability of a handset to set up and subsequently maintain a voice call under a range of typical network conditions, including those experienced during a soft handover. These tests, using the UMTS Call Reliability test functionality of the Spirent 8100 system, examined the performance of commercially-released devices including Apple’s iPhone™ 3G, together with other 3G handsets from LG, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson. Although subscribers that experience incomplete or dropped calls tend to blame the network, these test results highlight the important contribution made by the performance of the device.

The HSPA chipset performance benchmark test, which included pre-commercial and commercial Category 8 (7.2 Mbps) and Category 6 (3.6 Mbps) HSPA chipset solutions from Ericsson Mobile Platforms, Icera, Infineon, InterDigital, Motorola, NEC, Nokia and Qualcomm, leveraged the UMTS Data Performance test capability of the Spirent 8100 system. The tests measured the downlink and uplink data throughput of each chipset at the physical and application layer under a wide range of realistic network conditions. The test scenarios, based on test specifications from the 3GPP, included various static conditions as well as industry-standard pedestrian fading and vehicular fading conditions, with the downlink and uplink throughput tested separately, as well as simultaneously.

To demonstrate performance capabilities in an unencumbered network with ample backhaul, SRG had previously conducted live network tests on many of these solutions in Telstra’s Next G HSPA network in Melbourne, Australia. The results demonstrated the potential of HSPA Category 8, with individual devices achieving sustainable data rates of nearly 6 Mbps and peak data rates of nearly 7 Mbps, with combined throughput across two devices exceeding 8 Mbps in a single HSPA radio channel. However, SRG’s analysis of the results also revealed some of the challenges and limitations associated with conducting performance benchmark tests in the field.

A complete analysis of the HSPA chipset performance benchmark and mobile handset call reliability tests is available in Signal Research Group’s latest report. For more information please visit www.signalsresearch.com.

Spirent Communications will be demonstrating its 8100 UMTS Data Performance and Call Reliability test systems next week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Spirent’s booth is located in Hall 1, stand C14 at the February 16-19 event.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Adds New Features to Market-Leading Mobile Video Test Solution

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Lip Sync and Live Network Testing Capabilities on Spirent VUE Solution Enable First Complete,

Sunnyvale, Calf. – Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced important new capabilities for the Spirent 8100 Video User Experience (VUE) solution. Spirent VUE now offers a new Lip Sync test feature to measure audio-to-video synchronization errors associated with mobile video transmission. In addition, a new Application Development System (VUE-ADS) configuration is available, enabling video user experience testing of any mobile video technology under a wider range of test conditions, including live network testing.

Widespread 3G infrastructure rollouts have ensured that bandwidth is no longer the weakest link in video service performance. However, video service deployments continue to fall short of customer expectations based on the combined consideration of price, accessible content, and Quality of Experience (QoE) on the mobile device. To deliver on the promise of revenue growth from video services, network operators need the right answers in each of these three areas, including the use of performance metrics to help address QoE.

Spirent VUE system provides mobile operators and device manufactures with a unique solution that delivers an objective, quantitative assessment of a user’s experience with video services. The new Lip Sync test capability provides statistical analysis of the offset between the video and audio track over the entire duration of the source video clip. Lip Sync is a key element in the user experience of any video service and this new tool provides the quantified insight necessary to develop approaches that effectively address the issue in mobile platforms.

The new VUE-ADS configuration introduces the flexibility required to apply Spirent’s industry-leading mobile video measurement technology to challenges beyond those addressed by the fully-integrated VUE solution. These include video performance testing of devices on live networks, as well as over other mobile video delivery technologies such as DVB-H. The VUE-ADS configuration is targeted at network operator acceptance teams wanting to test video performance on a live network infrastructure rather than in lab-based emulated network environments. It is also addresses the needs of research and development teams that want to test video performance on mobile device reference designs that may not yet have a cellular interface. The VUE-ADS configuration also offers the same range of measurement capabilities as the original fully-integrated VUE system, including the identical test cases and video test content installed on the multimedia server.

“Identifying video performance issues prior to device deployment is more likely to result in a satisfied user who will continue subscribing to video services and is less likely to return the device, or in extreme cases move to another operator,” said Gene Kientzy, vice president, Multimedia Test Solutions at Spirent Communications. “Spirent has adopted a unique measurement methodology to overcome the challenges inherent in a comprehensive assessment of the complete mobile video user experience. The latest additions to Spirent’s VUE solution enhance our leadership position in performance testing of mobile devices beyond minimum industry-standard requirements.”

Built on Spirent’s modular 8100 Mobile Device Test System Platform, the VUE test solution promises to change the way the mobile industry evaluates video service performance. It employs a high-speed, high-resolution digital video camera to capture visible activity on the device display, from the moment a video is requested through playback completion. The recorded activity is then analyzed for Key Performance Indicators that include Video Start Time, Video Interruptions, Video Missing, Video Quality (MOS) and now Video-Voice Time Alignment (Lip Sync). All of this can be accomplished in a controlled laboratory environment with full test automation enabling timely and cost-effective root cause identification and debugging.

The VUE test solution is available in multiple configurations to address a broad range of budget and testing needs. The most basic configuration is the new VUE-ADS test solution that allows for testing of any technology as required by the user. The most advanced configuration is the lab-based UMTS VUE Module built on Spirent’s 8100 Mobile Device Test System platform that provides RF channel emulation using the Spirent SR5500 Wireless Channel Emulator and cellular network emulation using the Spirent SR3420 UMTS Network Emulator.

Spirent Communications will be demonstrating its VUE test systems next week at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Spirent’s booth is located in Hall 1, stand C14 at the February 16-19 event. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/vue.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Powers Product Innovation With Industry’s First Multi Dimensional Test Solution

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent HyperMetrics™ Family of Modules Provides New Architecture for Enhanced Realism with Scalability and Performance for Validating Networks and Devices

Sunnyvale, Calif. - In response to our customers’ requirement to drive innovation, Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in performance analysis and service management, today introduced the HyperMetrics™ family of modules on the award winning Spirent TestCenter platform. HyperMetrics is the industry’s first solution with an innovative multi-core architecture that addresses port density as well as the critical aspect of realism required to ensure Quality of Experience (QoE) for new services helping to maximize return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO) throughout the test lifecycle.

“With the evolution to intelligent content aware networks, service providers and network equipment manufacturers need to furnish tools and functions to plan, measure, monitor, and assure evolving traffic patterns, new services, and optimized application performance,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics Research. “This is not an easy task—it means that increasing port density or adding new protocols is necessary but clearly not sufficient for test engineers. What’s required are realistic network environments representing the end-to-end complex conditions of next-gen IP networks including aspects such as scalability and performance.”

Traditionally, test solutions focused on a single dimension of either port density or Layer 2-3 network emulation or Layer 4-7 application performance. As a result, the customer’s initial investment was limited only to a specific test in the development cycle. As network elements and services become more sophisticated, they require testing beyond Layer 2-3 considerations of throughput, latency and loss to include QoE measurements (Layer 4-7).

HyperMetrics’ high density, multi-core architecture delivers enhanced realism with scalability and performance along with the capability to reallocate processing power to conduct complex yet realistic testing. The emphasis on performance and application realism rather than just port density enables test engineers to invest in a single solution for all their testing needs ultimately reducing capital expenses, while staying within limited operational budgets.

“As the testing standard for tomorrow’s networks, Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics goes beyond advanced functionality to include investment protection,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Converged Core Solutions group at Spirent Communications. “In this tough economic environment our customers require a solution that allows them to test to new levels of enhanced realism with scalability and performance.”

The Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics modules are designed to offer network equipment manufacturers and service providers a robust and scalable test platform with a flexible user experience for conducting end-to-end Layer 2-7 multi-play testing at gigabit or 10gigabit line rates. The modules, available in a of variety of port densities, include the HyperMetrics Converged (CV), HyperMetrics Converged Multi-play (CM) and HyperMetrics Application Performance (AP) modules.

Demonstrations of Spirent TestCenter’s HyperMetrics are available at Spirent’s Proof of Concept (SPOC) Lab and collaboration centers in Sunnyvale, London and Beijing. For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/hypermetrics.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

PCTEST Lab Selects Spirent Communications for Over-The-Air A-GPS Testing

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis solutions and service management solutions, today announced that PCTEST Engineering Laboratory has added Over-the-Air (OTA) testing to its existing automated Spirent Position Location Test System (PLTS). With this upgrade to its portfolio of wireless mobile device testing services, PCTEST lab can run accurate, consistent test cases that emulate cellular networks, RF radio conditions and GPS satellites to fully test the Assisted GPS (A-GPS) performance of cellular devices.

Poor GPS antenna performance leads to a disappointing user experience that negatively impacts operators' Location Based Services (LBS) revenues. Adding a GPS antenna to a densely-packed mobile device can be a major challenge. The industry's existing A-GPS certification standards do not include OTA testing, which means that GPS antenna performance issues are not always caught prior to commercial deployment. This has led the industry to broaden the scope of its existing OTA Test Plan for mobile devices to include A-GPS.

“The addition of Spirent’s A-GPS OTA test platform is consistent with our commitment to leadership in wireless testing and certification of mobile devices”, said PCTEST president Randy Ortanez. “Spirent’s A-GPS test equipment complements PCTEST Lab’s comprehensive array of testing services supporting the wireless industry’ requirements. We believe this continued improvement further reinforces our leadership position in handset testing services in North America.”

Spirent PLTS is a fully integrated, automated test solution for all CDMA mobile devices that use Assisted GPS (A-GPS), Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFLT), Hybrid (AFLT and A-GPS) or GPS-only technologies. In addition to conformance/certification testing to industry standards, the Spirent PLTS allows performance evaluation well beyond these baseline test scenarios to identify performance breakpoints under real-world conditions.

“As the leader in A-GPS testing, Spirent has been making significant contributions to the industry’s new OTA Test Plan for A-GPS. We are delighted to see a leading test lab like PCTEST offering this important new capability to its customers” said Hesham ElHamahmy, senior director, Business Development at Spirent Communications. “We believe this test methodology will significantly increase user satisfaction with new LBS that are enabled by A-GPS.”

For more information visit www.spirent.com/go/plts

About PCTEST Engineering Laboratory

PCTEST Engineering Laboratory is a leading testing laboratory in RF and Protocol Conformance testing, Over-The-Air Antenna Performance test, EMC/EMI testing, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing, Hearing-Aid Compatibility (HAC) testing, and Battery Safety testing of Lithium Batteries for IEEE 1725 CTIA certification. PCTEST Lab is an approved CTIA Authorized Test Lab (CATL), Verizon Wireless certified 3rd party ODI Lab, CCF Authorized Test Facility, and is an ISO-17025 accredited laboratory by U.S. NIST/NVLAP and A2LA. For more information on PCTEST’s testing services visit www.pctestlab.com.

About Spirent

Company Contact

Sailaja Tennati
Spirent Communications
PR Manager
Direct: 770-432-3225
Business: 240-291-6044
sailaja.tennati@spirent.com

Spirent Communications Delivers First Over-The-Air Assisted GPS Test Solution to 7 Layers

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

New Test Capability on Spirent ULTS to Improve End-User Experience of Location Based Services

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Spirent Communications (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced the first delivery of its new Over-the-Air (OTA) test solution for Assisted GPS (A-GPS) in mobile devices to 7 layers in Irvine, California. 7 layers, a global group of test and service centers, is the first CTIA-accredited 3rd party laboratory to enlarge its OTA service portfolio with Spirent’s UMTS Location Test System (ULTS).

Poor GPS antenna performance often leads to a disappointing user experience of location-based services (LBS), which can reflect negatively on operators’ LBS revenues. However, adding a GPS antenna to a densely-packed mobile device form factor can be a major challenge. Because the industry’s existing certification standards for A-GPS do not include OTA testing, performance issues due to the GPS antenna are not always caught prior to commercial deployment. This has led the CTIA to broaden the scope of its existing OTA Performance Test Plan to include A-GPS.

“At Spirent we have always recognized the key GPS test challenges. Our GPS simulation expertise and integrated test solutions such as ULTS have enabled the entire industry to address A-GPS performance issues early in the development cycle. We have made important contributions to all the industry’s A-GPS test standards, including the CTIA’s revision of its OTA Performance Test Plan, and we have worked closely with 7 layers’ experts on implementation and verification of the CTIA tests on our ULTS platform” said Ron Borsato, Solutions Architect at Spirent Communications, who also chairs the CTIA’s GPS OTA Subgroup. “Once finalized, the revised CTIA test plan will become a requirement at all CTIA-accredited OTA test labs, helping to ensure a consistent level of A-GPS performance.”

“Working with Spirent gives us the earliest possible opportunity to meet our customers’ requests for both development testing and A-GPS certification once the CTIA Test Plan has been revised,” said David Bissonette, Vice President Business Development at 7 layers. “Working together with Spirent, a partner that has more than 20 years of GPS testing experience, proved to be highly successful and we feel that this new test service complying with CTIA requirements will be an important step to ensure end-user satisfaction with the latest A-GPS services.”

For more information visit 8100 UMTS

About 7 layers

7 layers is an international group of test and service centers for the wireless communications industry, with broad expertise in testing and qualification for GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, WiMAX, Bluetooth® and other wireless communications technologies. 7 layers offers test house services, engineering services and software development. As experts in conformance testing, 7 layers is also involved in the development of test specifications, test cases and test case validation for major test system manufacturers and certification groups. The 7 layers test and service centers are connected via a “Rapid Response Network”. Test projects run via this network to ensure seamless information transfer between customers and the 7 layers sites in Germany, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and USA. (www.7Layers.com)

Spirent Communications plc, Result of Tender Offer

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

London, UK – Spirent Communications plc (the “Company”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, today announces the result of the Tender Offer which closed on 25 November 2008 following shareholder approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company held on that day.

The strike price for the Tender Offer is 46 pence per Ordinary Share. All valid tenders submitted at or below 46 pence per Ordinary Share, as well as valid tenders submitted as Strike Price Tenders will be accepted in full. Tenders at prices above 46 pence per Ordinary Share will be rejected. Approximately 52.9 million Ordinary Shares are therefore being repurchased for cancellation at a price of 46 pence per Ordinary Share and a total cost of £24.3 million. Approximately 7.3 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital (excluding Ordinary Shares held in Treasury) is being cancelled.

Following completion of the Tender Offer and the cancellation of those Ordinary Shares which have been repurchased, the number of Ordinary Shares in issue will be 743,148,648. The Company currently holds 67,287,131 Ordinary Shares in Treasury, and the Company is not permitted to exercise voting rights in respect of those Ordinary Shares. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 675,861,517.

The above figure (675,861,517) may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Services Authority Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

The consideration for the Tender Offer will be sent to those shareholders who successfully tendered Ordinary Shares by 2 December 2008.

Notes:

1. It is expected that cheques for Tender Offer proceeds in respect of sold certificated Ordinary Shares will be despatched and CREST accounts for revised holdings of Ordinary Shares will be credited on 2 December 2008.

2. Full details of the Tender Offer to purchase Ordinary Shares up to a maximum value of £25 million, were set out in the circular posted to the Company’s shareholders on 27 October 2008.

Enquiries

Edward Bramson, Chairman/Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer, Spirent Communications plc, +44 (0)1293 767676

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831 3113

Definitions:
‘‘Ordinary Shares’’ means ordinary shares of 31/3 pence each in the capital of the Company

‘‘Tender Offer’’ means the invitation by UBS to the Company’s shareholders to tender Ordinary Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the circular posted to the Company’s shareholders on 27 October 2008

“Strike Price Tender” means Ordinary Shares tendered at the Strike Price rather than at a specific numerical price in the range of prices in which Ordinary Shares will be purchased by UBS pursuant to the terms of the Tender Offer, being 36 pence to 60 pence per Ordinary Share inclusive, in two pence increments only

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications’ New Security Testing Solution Enables Enterprises To Better Assess Network Security Risks

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent Avalanche/290 delivers Gigabit Ethernet Layer 4-7 Traffic Testing

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced the launch of Spirent Avalanche/290, a portable load testing solution that empowers corporate IT managers to characterize their network prior to deployment to ensure it meets the most rigorous security, capacity, performance and end-user Quality of Experience (QoE) demands. This highly versatile and cost-effective unit helps enterprises better understand the cost-risk analysis of a network upgrade before delivering a new service or committing to customer service level agreements (SLAs).

“IT managers are under increasing pressure to manage networks that reliably and securely deliver on-demand services to employees and customers,” said Ahmed Murad, General Manager, Multimedia Applications at Spirent Communications. “Spirent Avalanche/290 offers enterprises an economical option to reduce the risks and cost associated with a network outage due to a security lapse or performance limitations, while ensuring optimal performance and access.”

Spirent Avalanche/290 enables network managers to comprehensively test Layer 4-7 application traffic at various points in their network. It simulates up to 250,000 users and line rate Gigabit Ethernet Layer 4-7 traffic, delivering the required testing functionality and capacity for a large enterprise. Furthermore, the solution’s small size and light weight make it ideal for testing new network applications such as satellite-based Internet access on airlines and other field applications.

Spirent Avalanche/290 can simulate both real world clients and servers as a standalone unit providing several unique benefits. On the one hand it allows network managers to benchmark multiple clients against real server hosting, Web applications, mail or other type of services, while on the other, it can simulate the servers against clients; or – as when testing a firewall or intervening security or content aware device – it can simultaneously emulate both real world clients and servers requiring no additional equipment.

Spirent Avalanche/290 is part of Spirent’s Avalanche series of solutions. Spirent Avalanche series delivers the industry’s most comprehensive Layer 4-7 applications testing solutions. The platform provides the adaptability to generate line rate stateful traffic up to 10Gbps allowing trunk ports to be directly tested or to determine the impact of multiple GigE ports being aggregated over 10Gbps. Spirent Avalanche supports all major protocols, including HTTP 1.0/1.1, HTTPS, FTP, streaming media, IPv6, voice (SIP), mail (SMTP/POP3), DNS, SSL, Telnet, 802.1Q VLAN tagging, IPSec, 802.1x, and PPPoE and a number of enterprise applications via the capture/replay function.

For more information please visit Avalanche.

Spirent Communications Announces World’s First Quazi Zenith Satellite System for RF Simulation

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Spirent’s GSS8000 Adds QZSS Support to Existing GPS, Galileo & GLONASS Capabilities

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announces the world’s first RF constellation simulator that supports the Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). Spirent GSS8000 now supports QZSS system in addition to GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and SBAS.

The QZSS system, currently under development, plans to offer three navigation satellites in high-altitude orbits to improve navigation performance in areas of Japan that prove difficult with GPS alone. Spirent will initially provides support for L1 C/A code and L1 SAIF QZSS signals and add other QZSS signals as the market develops. For the first time, developers of QZSS systems based receivers, systems and applications have a solution that provides controlled, repeatable test signals, essential for accurate testing.

“This announcement demonstrates Spirent’s commitment to continue to invest in support of the evolving test needs of the GNSS community”, commented John Pottle, marketing director at Spirent’s positioning technology division. “The first QZSS satellite is planned for launch in 2009. Our customers can now test receivers, systems and applications that will use the QZSS signals. In addition, Spirent’s systems will combine QZSS with GPS and, if required, Galileo and GLONASS to provide a complete GNSS test bed”.

Only laboratory simulation can ensure controlled repeatable testing that explores both nominal and off-design conditions. By following a structured test approach, our customers can test multi-GNSS receivers, systems and applications resulting in shorter development times and improved performance. The Spirent GSS8000 simulation system design allows for a wide variety of configurations from GPS L1 right up to comprehensive multi-RF output and/or multi-constellation test systems.

You can learn more about Spirent’s new QZSS test capabilities at the Spirent booth # 9 & 10 at the International symposium on GPS/GNSS in Odaiba, Tokyo, 10-14 November 2008.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division

Spirent is the world’s leading provider of GNSS test and simulation systems. In this capacity, Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries across five continents and in over 50 governmental agencies. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning testing equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to emerging commercial markets.

Spirent Communications plc, Appointment of Group Chief Executive Officer

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent” or the “Company”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, today announces that Mr William Burns has been appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

Mr Burns joined the Company in November 2004 and has most recently been Chief Executive Officer of the Communications Group. In this position he has been responsible for the overall leadership, strategy, investments, coordination of resources and leveraging of the Company’s breadth and depth of technology across all of our Communications Group’s business units.

Prior to this position, Mr Burns was Executive Vice President of the Communications Group, also served as President, Service Assurance Broadband and was responsible for global sales and corporate marketing across all divisions. In this role, he drove critical business changes to improve profitability and grow market share.

Commenting on Mr Burns’ appointment, Edward Bramson, Chairman of Spirent said, “I have worked closely with Bill since I joined Spirent in December 2006. Bill has a clear vision of Spirent’s strategic direction and contributes directly and effectively across all aspects of Spirent’s Communications business. The Board is confident that Bill is the best person to lead the Company, to take advantage of its current position and to take Spirent into its next phase of development.”

Following the appointment, Edward Bramson will remain as Chairman of the Company but in a non-executive capacity.

The following information relating to Mr Burns is disclosed in accordance with the UK Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules:

Directorships of Publicly Quoted Companies held in the last 5 years
None

Interests in the Company’s Ordinary Shares
Ordinary Shares of 3 & 1/3 pence: None

Share Incentives: 91,875 Performance Shares & 683,125 Stock Appreciation Rights

The Company confirms that there are no other matters requiring disclosure in relation to UK Listing Rule 9.6.13R.

Notes to Editors

Prior to joining the Company in November 2004, Mr Burns held several executive leadership positions at Tellabs, Inc. including Senior Vice President Global Marketing, Senior Vice President - Europe, Middle East and Africa and Vice President - Competitive Service Provider Sales.

Mr Burns holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, a Business Administration degree from College Misericordia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Temple University.

Enquiries
Edward Bramson, Chairman/Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer Spirent Communications plc +44 (0)1293 767676

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke/Helen Thomas Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc, Interim Management Statement (Unaudited)

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Trading performance for the period since 29 June 2008 to date is in line with the Board’s expectations.

Revenue grew by 9 per cent, operating profit by 31 per cent and earnings per share by 44 per cent compared to the third quarter last year.

The results for the third quarter of 2008 are set out below:

Continuing Operations

£ million
3rd quarter 2008
3rd quarter 2007

Revenue
64.8
59.2

Operating profit
11.7
8.9

Earnings per share (basic) - pence
1.53
1.06

Earnings from continuing operations include a charge of 0.07 pence per share for share-based payment and amortisation of intangible assets (3rd quarter 2007: 0.11 pence).

Performance Analysis

Revenue for the division grew by 16 per cent to £47.4 million and operating profit grew by 56 per cent to £10.6 million. Expressed in US dollars, revenue was $89.7 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared with $82.7 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 8 per cent, whilst operating profit was $20.7 million compared with $13.6 million, an increase of 52 per cent. Order intake during July and August exceeded that of the same period in 2007, while that for September was somewhat lower than that for the prior year. Order intake for October has been ahead of last year, with the cumulative total now in line with that expected. The division continues to maintain a substantial order book.

Service Assurance

As anticipated, Service Assurance revenues of £9.0 million in the third quarter were lower by 13 per cent compared to the same period in the prior year due to one-time sales revenue related to deployment projects for software and hardware last year. This resulted in a decrease in operating profit by £1.0 million to £0.9 million. For the year to date expressed in US dollars, revenue is down 10 per cent and operating profit is up 14 per cent.

Systems

Systems’ revenue increased by 5 per cent over the same period last year, profitability was broadly similar to last year.

Profitability

Improvements in the overall profitability of the Group continued through the third quarter, resulting in operating return on sales increasing to 18.1 per cent (3rd quarter 2007: 15.0 per cent).

Cash

The closing cash position was £77.8 million at the end of the third quarter of 2008, compared to the cash balances at the end of the first half year of £67.7 million. There was an outflow of £2.3 million for the share repurchase programme and an inflow through the exercise of share options of £1.9 million during the quarter.

On 13 October 2008 the Company announced its intention to make on-market purchases of its Ordinary Shares up to a maximum of £25.0 million and to propose a tender offer to purchase another £25.0 million of its Ordinary Shares. The tender offer was announced on 27 October. As part of the on-market share repurchase programme £8.1 million was used to purchase 18.1 million Ordinary Shares during October, the interim dividend of £3.7 million and taxes of £3.0 million were paid and the resulting cash balances at the end of the month were £72.5 million.

Outlook

We continue to anticipate that the earnings performance for the year will be in line with our expectations.

Exchange Benefit

Whilst there has been a marked change to closing spot exchange rates for the US dollar to pound sterling in recent weeks, it has not yet materially affected the average exchange rates used for translation this year. Should the exchange rate for the US dollar to pound sterling remain at these lower levels for the rest of the year the average exchange rate for 2008 would be 6 to 8 per cent lower when compared to the rate of 2.00 for 2007.

If the exchange rate continues at these levels during 2009 a more significant translation effect would benefit earnings next year.

The Company has a policy to hedge forward against export transaction exposures from the UK businesses, but not to hedge against translation of dollar profits.

Group Chief Executive Officer

As announced today, William Burns has been appointed to the Board of Spirent as Group Chief Executive Officer. Edward Bramson will continue as Chairman, in a non-executive capacity.

Edward Bramson, Chairman, commented:

“Spirent has continued to benefit from the careful management of overhead expenses and October orders encourage us to believe that earnings for the fourth quarter of 2008, and therefore for the full year, will be in line with our expectations.

“I welcome Bill Burns to the Board. I have every confidence that he will continue to manage the successful development of the Company and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.”

Enquiries

Edward Bramson, Chairman/Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer, Spirent Communications plc +44 (0)1293 767676

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke/Helen Thomas Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Spirent Communications Validates IPTV and IMS Networks and Services at GMI 2008

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Next-Generation Networks Benchmarked with Industry Leading Test Solutions

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications (LSE: SPT) today announced its participation at GMI 2008, a global MultiService Forum (MSF) interoperability event, with solutions for IMS-based IPTV service integration and interoperability tests. As a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, Spirent has been supporting GMI events since their inception in 2002. This year’s emphasis on IMS-based IPTV service gives Spirent an opportunity to showcase its extensive experience in both IPTV and IMS testing.

Spirent is powering the deployment and delivery of next-generation networks and is aligned with GMI’s mission to “make Next Generation Networks work”. Participating at three of GMI 2008’s host locations – the labs of Verizon, NCS and BT/Vodafone – Spirent has contributed more than $1.6 million in test equipment and 800 hours of professional services expertise. By supporting several test scenarios, Spirent is demonstrating key testing functionality over an IMS architecture including end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) of VoIP calls, performance of emergency location-based applications such as E911 services, performance of the mobile core network and quality of IMS-based and non-IMS based IPTV delivery. In addition, Spirent was responsible for the development and implementation of test cases for evaluating video quality and related metrics, and IP network impairments based on ITU-T G.1050-2007.

“Delivering high-quality IPTV services over an IMS architecture is particularly demanding because it is technically complex, occupies a significant amount of network bandwidth and even small amounts of network impairments can significantly affect the end-user experience,” said Jack Douglass, director of video technologies at Spirent Communications. “IMS-based IPTV must support both broadcast and on-demand TV services with the same quality of experience consumers currently have with traditional cable and satellite services. Our expertise in video and IPTV testing, coupled with its leadership in the IMS space, makes Spirent a perfect fit for this GMI event.”

Spirent is providing award winning test solutions to support GMI’s Next Generation Network (NGN) interoperability efforts. Spirent TestCenter™ – an integrated test platform that accelerates conformance, functional and performance testing for converged networks – with its Video Quality Analyzer – allows for the assessment of over 100 metrics related to delivering high quality IPTV. Spirent GEM helps emulate ‘real-world’ IPTV network impairments based on ITU-T Recommendation G.1050-2007 and ANSI TIA-921A. Spirent Abacus is being used for IMS VoIP testing and emergency call services, while Spirent Avalanche is facilitating IPTV multicast video and Web services testing and Spirent Landslide is testing GSM/UMTS core networks.

Communications industry leaders such as Cisco, Brocade, Alcatel-Lucent and others, who are advancing the next-generation network evolution, depend on multi-functional, comprehensive solutions from Spirent to help ensure that the multi-play networks and multi-technology platforms of tomorrow deliver the Quality of Experience (QoE) which service providers are demanding today. Testing the converged network is a strategic imperative for service providers and network equipment manufacturers to reduce churn and increase revenue potential.

Spirent Communications plc, Tender Offer to return up to £25 million to Shareholders

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent” or the “Company”) (LSE:SPT) today announces the price range and expected timetable for its proposed return of up to £25 million of capital to Shareholders by way of a tender offer, as announced on 13 October 2008.

Spirent proposes a new tender offer for the purchase of up to £25 million of Ordinary Shares in the Company (the “Tender Offer”) on substantially the same terms as its previous tender offer to purchase up to £50 million of its Ordinary Shares, which was withdrawn on 13 October 2008. The price range for the Tender Offer is to be a minimum price of 36 pence to a maximum price of 60 pence, in two pence increments. Assuming the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, it will result in the purchase and subsequent cancellation of between approximately 69.4 million Spirent Ordinary Shares (if the strike price is the minimum price in the price range) and approximately 41.7 million Spirent Ordinary Shares (if the strike price is the maximum price in the price range) which would lead to 9.5 per cent and 5.7 per cent fewer Spirent Ordinary Shares in issue, respectively.

The expected timetable is set out below:

Action

Date (2008)

Posting Date of the Shareholder Circular

Monday 27 October

Tender Offer opens

Monday 27 October

Extraordinary General Meeting

Tuesday 25 November

Latest time and date for receipt of Tender Forms

Tuesday 25 November

Record Date for Tender Offer

Tuesday 25 November

Announcement of results of the Tender Offer

Thursday 27 November

Despatch of cheques for Tender Offer proceeds in respect of sold certificated Ordinary Shares

by Tuesday 2 December

On 13 October 2008, the Company also confirmed its intention to make on-market purchases of Spirent Ordinary Shares up to a maximum of £25 million from time to time in accordance with the existing authority granted to the Company by the Shareholders at the 2008 Annual General Meeting. The Company undertook not to purchase its Ordinary Shares during the period when the Tender Offer is open for acceptance. Since 13 October 2008, the Company has purchased 18.1 million of its Ordinary Shares at an average price of 44.68 pence each. The Company will therefore seek to return a further £16.9 million to Shareholders via on-market purchases after completion of the Tender Offer.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to purchase any securities or the right to vote in any jurisdiction. The full terms and conditions of the Tender Offer will be set out in the circular to be sent to Shareholders today (the “Circular”). Shareholders are advised to read carefully the Circular and the accompanying documentation in relation to the Tender Offer once it has been received. The Tender Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into Canada, Australia, South Africa or Japan and neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer documentation may be distributed or sent in or into or from Canada, Australia, South Africa or Japan.

In accordance with the ABI guidelines, the Company is seeking to renew its authority to make on-market purchases of Spirent Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Tender Offer rather than relying on the remaining existing authority. Accordingly, the notice of Extraordinary General Meeting contained in the Circular proposes a shareholder resolution to this effect.

Enquiries

Edward Bramson, Executive Chairman/Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer, Spirent Communications plc +44 (0)1293 767676

Andrew Dowler/Juliet Clarke Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

Industry’s Largest 10 Gigabit Ethernet Test Conducted with Spirent Communications

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ Selected to Benchmark Cisco Nexus 7000 Data Center Switch

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, successfully completed the industry’s largest-ever public 10 Gigabit Ethernet test. Supplying its Spirent TestCenter™ platform, the test demonstrates the company’s leadership in validating next-generation Ethernet devices that power the Internet’s continued expansion. Communications industry leaders such as Cisco, who are advancing this network evolution, are depending on multi-functional, comprehensive solutions from Spirent to help ensure that the multi-play networks and multi-technology platforms of tomorrow deliver the Quality of Experience (QoE) which service providers are demanding today.

In a test involving a 256 port 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch, Spirent TestCenter authenticated the performance of the Cisco Nexus 7000 Data Center Switch in several areas including high availability and resiliency as well as performance of IPv4 unicast and multicast traffic. This test was commissioned by Network World magazine and conducted by industry leading independent test lab, Network Test. Unlike other test products, Spirent provides detailed functional analysis that goes beyond performance testing to quickly identify, isolate and resolve network and system issues early in the development and testing cycle.

“The rapid growth of data centers and 10 Gigabit Ethernet make performance validation a strategic imperative for equipment vendors like Cisco,” said David Newman, president, Network Test, a Network World Test Alliance partner. “Using Spirent TestCenter to assess Cisco’s latest data center switch was a logical choice since the test system provided the necessary scalability, density and flexibility at 10 Gigabit Ethernet rates. What’s more, Spirent TestCenter allowed us to validate both control-plane and data-plane scalability.”

In addition to measuring throughput and latency of unicast and multicast traffic in these tests, Spirent TestCenter also measured high availability and resiliency. These tests examined how the Cisco Nexus switch recovered from an OSPF process restart, how it handled the loss of one or more fabric cards, and how it handled in-service software upgrades and downgrades. Simulating 10 Gigabit Ethernet traffic to 256 ports at line rate speeds, Spirent TestCenter validated the ability of the Cisco Nexus switch to meet the high availability requirements of even the largest data centers.

“In one of the largest public tests of its kind, Spirent continues to demonstrate why it is the preferred network performance analysis system for some of the largest telecom equipment manufacturers and service providers,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager, Converged Core Solutions at Spirent Communications. “Our highly scalable solutions continue to make a difference in helping engineers assess a network’s functionality and performance through a single application.”

Spirent TestCenter, a Layer 2-7 network performance testing platform, is specifically designed for multi-play networks and multi-device technologies. It supports the evolving protocols required for today’s network devices, including IPv4/IPv6 routing, multicast, MPLS, Spanning Tree, VLAN, VLAN stacking and DHCP. It also effectively tests Ethernet switches that are capable of up to 1 Gigabit Ethernet connections to the desktop and 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections to the core. Spirent TestCenter supports the testing of network architectures that include network elements such as Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), high density Ethernet aggregation switches, application acceleration and security devices. For upper layer testing, Spirent TestCenter supports stateful TCP traffic, enabling users to correlate application-layer and lower-layer events on servers and switches.

Spirent Communications Expands Capabilities of In-Home Network Test Solution

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Tech-X Flex™ Adds RF Video Troubleshooting Module to Handheld Tool’s Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) Testing Prowess

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in performance analysis and service assurance solutions, today announced the addition of an RF video test module for its Spirent Tech-X Flex™ field test solution – an invaluable handheld device utilized to identify and troubleshoot the deployment issues related to video services within a consumer’s home. Spirent Tech-X Flex is now the industry’s first and only device to support, in a single unit, both the testing of IP video service quality of Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) networks as well as analog and digital RF-based video signals.

Telcos and cable operators with hybrid video networks no longer have to supply field technicians with multiple devices to test RF video and MoCA. Instead, these technicians can identify and troubleshoot both network- and service-related issues inside the customer’s residence with a just one piece of test equipment. Spirent Tech-X Flex also supports other in-home networking technologies including Ethernet and 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN).

“A service provider, such as Verizon who is aggressively rolling out its FiOS TV service, or a cable operator trying to deliver the complete triple-play experience, will clearly welcome the utility and functionality of a handheld testing device which allows field technicians to easily yet comprehensively install and maintain residential video offerings,” said Olga Yashkova, Test & Measurement Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “The ability to accomplish all in-home testing needs with a single, compact device furnishes telcos and cable companies with an efficient tool that allows for the faster introduction of services as well as happier customers.”

With Spirent Tech-X Flex, service providers and cable operators can ensure they are delivering the highest subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE) while quickly and cost-effectively introducing video services as field technicians can now easily address the complexities associated with in-home networks.

“Spirent’s combination of RF testing with triple-play testing options including video, data, MoCA, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi is unmatched,” said Sean Yarborough, Director of Marketing - Strategy, Partnership and Field Test Solutions at Spirent Communications. “Traditionally, field technicians must use different testing products for coaxial-delivered cable TV and IP video- delivered cable TV. Our solution combines these capabilities into a single unit enabling a best–in-class handheld tester for in-home voice, video, and data networks including those using proprietary IP video middleware.”

With both dual MoCA and dual Ethernet interfaces, Spirent Tech-X Flex offers field technicians an in-line IP video monitoring solution that helps them avoid issues with proprietary signaling between the set-top box and the video server. Specifically, it delivers automated expert diagnostics which accelerate the field troubleshooting process by analyzing and correlating various test results to identify faults and prioritize those with the greatest impact on service. Ultimately, service providers using Spirent Tech-X Flex realize reduced repeat rates for network installation and repair and shorter job completion times

Spirent Communications and SGS Wireless Partnership Agreement Advances Assisted GPS Handset Testing

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent ULTS Supports Full Range of RF and Signalling Conformance Test Cases on a Single Platform

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis solutions and service management solutions and SGS Wireless (SWX: SGSN), the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company have signed an agreement to provide validation and testing services on the Spirent UMTS Location Test System (ULTS) at the SGS Wireless laboratory in Cambridge, UK.

Under this agreement SGS will provide Spirent with validation services to ensure that the Spirent ULTS stays at the cutting edge of Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) testing capability. This will ensure that the Spirent ULTS test case coverage continues to expand and address the industry’s future testing needs. In addition, SGS will use the world-leading Spirent ULTS to provide A-GPS testing services to the cellular handset industry.

SGS will provide on-going validation services for existing PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB) and Global Certification Forum (GCF) certified test cases, as well as for new test cases for the forthcoming OMA Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Version 2.0 Enabler Test Specification. PTCRB certification is required for A-GPS-enabled products sold into the North American market. GCF certification is needed before many network operators outside North America will consider a product for deployment on their networks.

SGS will use the Spirent ULTS to provide A-GPS certification and other testing for its many cellular handset and network operator customers. The Spirent test system allows the full range of RF and signalling conformance test cases required by the GCF and the PTCRB to be run using a single platform.

“SGS are very pleased to be providing these services to Spirent Communications and the cellular industry”, said John Midwood, Engineering Manager of SGS Wireless Europe. “It enables Spirent to take advantage of the specific expertise SGS has in testing GPS enabled devices, while advancing the wireless industry’s deployment of the new SUPL V2.0 standard. SGS Wireless Europe has a strong reputation for quality, being accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to ISO 17025 standards”.

“We are delighted to be working with a leader like SGS. In addition to the validation work that SGS will be providing to us, this will also enable them to provide Certification services to their customers using ULTS,” said Richard Catmur, Location Product Segment Manager at Spirent Communications. “The Spirent ULTS is recognised as the leading test platform for A-GPS and is used by every major handset manufacturer, network operators and independent certification labs worldwide.”

Spirent had been the leading provider of A-GPS test systems since the beginning of this decade for GSM, WCDMA and CDMA handsets. Spirent A-GPS test systems are used by all the world’s leading A-GPS chipset developers, handset manufacturers, network operators and certification labs to test the conformance and performance of mobile A-GPS technology.

Spirent Communications plc, Tender Offer Withdrawn and New Tender Offer

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent” or the “Company”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, announces that the Tender Offer has been withdrawn and a new offer announced.

Tender Offer Withdrawn

Spirent announces the withdrawal of the Tender Offer to purchase up to £50 million of Ordinary Shares in the Company. The intention of the offer had been to repurchase Ordinary Shares in the Company at an attractive price in the interests of shareholders in the long term. However, whilst the Company continues to perform in line with management's expectations, uncertainties in global markets have led to significant volatility in the price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares. Spirent’s closing share price immediately prior to the announcement of the Tender Offer was 74.5p and the bottom of the Tender Offer price range at 70p represented a 6 per cent discount to that closing price of 74.5p. On Friday 10 October 2008, Spirent's Ordinary Shares closed at 57.5p, meaning that the bottom of the price range represented a 22 per cent premium to the closing price of 57.5p. The Board therefore considers the price range offered to be inappropriate and no longer believes it to be in the interests of Spirent or the shareholders as a whole to proceed with the Tender Offer.

New Tender Offer and On-market Repurchases

The Company will propose a new tender offer for the purchase of up to £25 million of Ordinary Shares in the Company (the “New Tender Offer”) at the earliest opportunity and on substantially the same terms. A new price range, taking into account the prevailing market conditions, will be announced when the New Tender Offer circular is posted to shareholders.

The Company, which has existing authority to repurchase up to 101.9 million of the Company's issued Ordinary Shares also intends to make on-market purchases of Spirent's Ordinary Shares up to a maximum of £25 million from time to time from the date of this announcement. Spirent will not repurchase Ordinary Shares during the period when the New Tender Offer is open for acceptance.

At the Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders convened for 14 October 2008 (the “EGM”), the Chairman of the Meeting will, with the consent of the EGM, adjourn the EGM sine die. As the Board does not intend to put the resolutions set out in the notice to the EGM, shareholders are recommended not to attend. All tenders of Ordinary Shares which have been made in accordance with the Tender Offer (whether through CREST or by submission of a tender form) will be disregarded. All shareholders (outside of Canada, Australia, South Africa and Japan) will receive replacement documentation in relation to the New Tender Offer in due course.

Enquiries

Edward Bramson, Executive Chairman/Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer, Spirent Communications plc +44 (0)1293 767676

Andrew Dowler/Harriet Keen Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

AT4 Wireless Selects Spirent Communications for WIMAX Interoperability Test Lab

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent SR5500 Test Solution Contributes to Successful Rollout of WiMAX Services in North America

Herndon, VA and Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced that it has been selected by AT4 wireless to provide RF channel emulation capability to AT4 wireless’ WiMAX interoperability lab. The lab will use Spirent SR5500 Wireless Channel Emulators to test the interoperability between commercial WiMAX infrastructure and WiMAX mobile devices.

AT4 wireless’ lab is providing device interoperability testing for the most ambitious North American rollout of WiMAX services to date. “We know that this deployment will become a highly visible symbol of WiMAX’s capabilities, so we’ve taken a very serious approach to evaluating all available test solutions required for our test lab to meet our customer demands and requirements”, said José Aurelio Rodrigo, Chief Operating Officer of AT4 wireless, Inc. “Spirent’s test equipment provides all the features necessary to evaluate complex interoperability scenarios including 4x4 MIMO and mobility, as well as the flexibility and modularity to adapt as our testing needs evolve.”

“With the Spirent SR5500 having been adopted by leading WiMAX network operators, equipment manufacturers and technology providers, Spirent has already made significant contributions to the deployment of WiMAX in North America,” said Rob Van Brunt, vice president and market segment leader at Spirent Communications Wireless division. “We’re delighted to have been chosen by AT4 wireless for this phase of interoperability testing, so crucial to moving the technology forward. With our combined expertise in WiMAX technology we can provide an excellent test solution which will contribute to a successful rollout.”

The Spirent SR5500 builds on more than a decade of wireless test leadership, providing highly accurate emulation of the transmission channel for receiver performance testing. Unlike technology-specific channel emulators, the Spirent SR5500 supports multiple emerging next-generation technologies. All relevant frequency bands are supported, including the new 700 MHz and 2.7 GHz bands. In addition to WiMAX, the advanced fading engine ensures accurate testing of other sophisticated technologies including HSPA, EV-DO and LTE.

Spirent is demonstrating performance capabilities of Spirent SR5000 at WIMAX World 2008 in Chicago, October 1 to October 2 at Booth # 632.

About AT4 wireless
AT4 wireless, a global supplier of Testing Solutions for wireless technologies prides itself on being both, the most complete Wireless Certification & Testing Laboratory in the world and a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge test & measurement equipment for telecommunication technologies.

AT4 wireless, Inc.
AT4 wireless, Inc. is the first North America-based certification test laboratory, accredited by the WiMAX Forum in 2008. The lab is located in Herndon, Virginia, easy to access due to its vicinity to the Washington-Dulles International Airport. .

AT4 wireless, Inc. conducts WiMAX Forum Certification Testing, including Radio and Protocol Conformance testing, Mobile Interoperability testing and Radiated Performance Testing (RPT). AT4 wireless is the first location worldwide to offer RPT Testing for WiMAX devices
AT4 wireless was founded in 1991, has more than 350 employees and operates from its headquarter in Malaga/Spain and its US-based branch in Herndon/VA.

For more information, visit www.at4wireless.com
All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners

Carriers and Systems Vendors Validate Next Generation Systems and Applications with Industry’s First LTE Test Solution from Spirent Communications

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Landslide compatible with all 4G mobile standards including LTE, WiMAX, HSPA, CDMA and UMTS

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions, today announced the launch of Long Term Evolution (LTE) testing capabilities on its Spirent Landslide Mobile Packet Core Test Platform making the solution the market’s first performance testing tool compatible with all current wireless standards including fourth generation (4G) network infrastructure products and services. Spirent Landslide allows customers to deploy mobile broadband networks and applications rapidly and cost-effectively with unparalleled confidence while serving the demanding needs of the next-generation subscribers.

Spirent Landslide, offering Layer 4-7 testing, is capable of emulating traffic from as many as 32,000 mobile base stations and 3.2 million simultaneous users at 120 gigabits per second and creates ‘real-life’ test conditions that help identify and resolve service issues prior to deployment. This approach significantly improves time-to–market for new services, reduces subscriber churn and increases the quality of experience (QoE) for subscribers using next-generation applications.

“The addition of these new wireless testing capabilities of Spirent Landslide will enable service providers and network equipment manufacturers to bring LTE deployments forward.” said James Brunson, director of Converged Network Solutions at Spirent Communications. “Spirent Landslide allows carriers and vendors to conduct regression and application testing in as real world an environment as possible. This ultimately enables the rollout of robust and reliable infrastructure equipment and services which will exceed subscriber expectations once they go to market.”

With the addition of LTE testing capabilities, Spirent Landslide now addresses all 4G standards such including WiMAX, HSPA, CDMA and UMTS. It also allows network equipment manufacturers to test hand-offs between different networks. This is crucial as it ensures subscribers have the smoothest and most uninterrupted experience as possible and their mobile devices receive signals from multiple network sources running on different standards.

LTE is the upgrade path from existing 3G GSM networks and will spawn a new generation of wireless services such as high definition TV, mobile video conferencing and the streaming of music, gaming and video services. It is vital that network equipment manufacturers and service providers are prepared for this development and are able to launch compelling, functional and profitable services which take full advantage of their investment in LTE. Spirent Landslide with its services-centric approach to network testing offers a solution that provides unmatched end-to-end application testing across mobile packet data networks, providing true QoE measurements for the key application services like Web browsing, file transfer, streaming voice and video, and other next generation services. Additionally, with an IPSec accelerator card, Spirent Landslide now supports increased throughput of encrypted data.

Carriers Overcome Complex Next-Generation Multi-Play Network and Multi-Platform Technology Testing with Spirent Communications

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ 3000 Series Offers High Performance End-to-End Layer 2-7 Triple-Play Testing at Line Rate on Single Gigabit Port

Sunnyvale, Calif. - To address the increasing complexity of testing multi-play networks and multi-platform technologies, Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), today launched the industry’s most innovative high-performance, high-density 12 port, Layer 2-7 modules for its award-winning Spirent TestCenter™ platform, which has also been selected as the finalist for the 2008 IEC InfoVision Award. Unlike competitive solutions, the Spirent TestCenter 3000 Series modules are specially designed to offer network equipment manufacturers and service providers a robust and scalable test platform with a flexible user experience for conducting end-to-end Layer 2-7 triple-play testing at line rate through a single gigabit port.

Today’s routers and switches have become increasingly more multi-functional with advanced security features and application awareness. Testing with upper layer protocols (data, video and voice) becomes essential to improve the quality of these products. To meet these needs, the Spirent TestCenter 3000 Series modules provide customers with the ability to showcase the distinguishing capabilities of these complex network elements.

“Service provider networks generate revenue by efficiently and securely transmitting data, voice, video, and wireless applications,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst, Infonetics Research. “These networks also need to provide for evolving traffic patterns, new services, and optimized application performance. Providers can no longer depend only on bandwidth and speed for differentiation--carrier business cases can only succeed when engineers have test and measurement tools that support applications and services on next-gen networks.”

Built on the Spirent TestCenter architecture, test engineers are now able to characterize complex user experience scenarios at line rate while still leveraging the benefits of a highly scalable and stable solution which accommodates comprehensive routing and a mix of access protocols on a single platform. For the first time, users have a comprehensive set of run time results to effectively troubleshoot and quickly diagnose performance issues.

“Spirent continuously looks for the best ways to address the ever changing needs of service providers and network equipment manufacturers who understand the strategic role testing plays in today’s competitive business environment,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager of Converge Core Solutions at Spirent. “No other solution on the market tackles the high-performance needs of these users while simultaneously supporting the scale and density requirements necessary for complex stateful testing.”

The award winning Spirent TestCenter solution is an integrated test platform that accelerates conformance, functional and performance testing for converged networks. This platform comprises hardware and software components used by service providers, network equipment manufacturers and large enterprises to evaluate network devices and configurations for development, quality assurance, technical marketing, customer service and production.

The capabilities of the Spirent TestCenter 3000 Series modules will demonstrated at Spirent Booth # 126 at Broadband World Forum 2008 in Brussels, Belgium from September 30 to October 2.

Test Automation Alliance Advances Customer-Centric Test Environment for System and Services Development

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

TAA Deploys Fully Operational Automation Continuum Framework Across Global Network of Seven Fully Integrated Test Labs

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Test Automation Alliance (TAA), an ecosystem of best-in-class testing companies focused on optimizing lab resources through advanced automation, successfully deployment of a fully operational global automation test framework. Implemented across seven locations around the world, the test lab Automation Continuum is a truly open, plug and play framework created around service providers’ and network equipment manufacturers’ lab requirements, resources and restrictions. The TAA Automation Continuum integrates automation technologies including lab management, configuration management, test case authoring, network impairment and test management.

“Today’s test engineers employ a combination of complementary best-in-class test automation tools to effectively validate performance of the networks systems and services,” said Elisabeth Rainge, director of Network Software at IDC “The TAA enables test labs to choose from a suite of customer-centric, device-agnostic, tools targeted at advancing a specific area of their existing automation framework or a complete test automation framework. This framework will improve test productivity, time to market and cost of ownership for operating automated test systems.”

Spirent Communications, an industry leader in performance analysis and service management solutions, has deployed the Automation Continuum framework, implementing it across a remotely accessible global network of seven integrated and independently automated test labs. In doing so, Spirent now enables network equipment manufacturer and service provider customers to easily demonstrate, utilize and realize the benefits of this advanced test lab automation solution for their testing needs. TAA’s effort supports Spirent’s overall technology backbone for its Global Services to cost effectively advance automation and drive productivity in the testing process while simultaneously reducing capital expenditures.

“The physical labs are geographically dispersed around the world and emulate our customers’ operational structure where test systems including automation solutions support a test environment where the customers’ device or service infrastructure is the focal-point” said Neil Anderson, vice president Spirent Global Services. “Customers want to leverage their significant test assets seamlessly across continents and time zones, and implementing the customer-centric Test Lab Automation Continuum frameworks allows them to do that like never before.”

The sites currently comprising this fully-automated global test bed include Sunnyvale, London, Paris, Beijing, Ottawa, Plano and Calabasas. This global test lab is in daily use by Spirent’s global services team to execute customer projects and can be demonstrated at Spirent Proof of Concept (SPoC) Labs and Collaboration Centers in Sunnyvale, London and Beijing.

The TAA has expanded it membership with the latest addition of Anue Systems who joins the alliance to partner with its other members - EdenTree Technologies, FanFare, MRV and Spirent Communications. Together the members are delivering a proven track record of unsurpassed automation technology and continue to leverage their combined expertise to advance the Test Lab Automation Continuum.

Spirent Communications Advances Certification of Assisted GPS Devices with Industry’s First Fully Validated Test System

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent ULTS First to Obtain Complete Validation for All A-GPS Test Standards

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis solutions, maintains its leadership in Assisted GPS (A-GPS) testing by becoming the first test system vendor to validate all the A-GPS test standards on its UMTS Location Test System (ULTS). Mobile device manufacturers, chipset vendors and mobile operators now have access to a single test platform that runs all the validated A-GPS test cases required by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB).

With all validated A-GPS test cases now available on a single automated test system, Spirent ULTS significantly improves device verification, certification and time-to-market cycles. Furthermore, it limits the need for test engineers to work with multiple test platforms or platform configurations, which can complicate and delay the testing process.
The mobile community relies on A-GPS test standards to certify that mobile devices conform to industry specifications prior to market deployment. With the recent validations of the 3GPP TS 51.010 GSM Signalling Test Cases, Spirent ULTS now supports validated WCDMA and GSM test cases from 3GPP Standards TS 34.171, TS34.123 and TS 51.010, as well as the OMA SUPL V1.0 ETS.

“Our global customer base relies on our expertise to successfully develop and deploy A-GPS solutions. This expertise led to Spirent’s involvement in the writing of many of the test cases in the standards bodies,” said Richard Catmur, Location Product Segment Manager at Spirent Communications. “Having all current A-GPS test standards validated in a single platform will significantly increase the pace at which our customers can certify their devices.”

In addition to conformance testing, the Spirent ULTS also offers advanced A-GPS testing beyond the minimum requirements of the 3GPP and OMA test standards. The Spirent ULTS closes the gap between pure conformance and field testing in a controllable and flexible lab-based test environment. With the most powerful and flexible GPS simulation capabilities available, this test system offers users the possibility to test the A-GPS RF performance in challenging simulated environments, such as urban canyons and deep indoors. Furthermore, the ULTS offers advanced protocol testing under some of the most demanding yet common real-world scenarios.

Built upon the expertise gained from Spirent’s Position Location Test System (PLTS), launched into the CDMA market in 2001, the ULTS was the first commercially-available UMTS A-GPS test system. Since then, most of the world’s largest network operators, together with all the major mobile device and A-GPS chipset manufacturers, have relied on the Spirent ULTS to design, test and certify their LBS solutions.

Spirent Communications Announces First Public Demonstration Of GPS/Galileo/GLONASS Simulation System

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent GSS8000, Industry’s Most Powerful and Flexible Simulation System Featured at ION GNSS 2008

Paignton, UK - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announces the first public demonstration of GPS/Galileo/GLONASS simulation system with Spirent GSS8000 multi-constellation, multi-signal simulator at Institute of Navigation (ION) GNSS 2008 conference. Spirent’s new GSS8000 GNSS simulator is a powerful, flexible platform providing solutions for R&D and system and application testing. The GSS8000 supports multi-system, multi constellation GNSS testing with industry leading flexibility, accuracy, and reliability.

Simulators are essential tools for GNSS R&D and system and application developers as they provide controlled, repeatable test signals. The GSS8000 on display from September 17 - 19 at ION GNSS 2008 conference in Savannah, Georgia includes GPS, Galileo and GLONASS signals, plus SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS), combined at one RF output. The same system is also capable of generating signals representing the planned Japanese Quazi Zenith satellite system. Spirent will have GPS, GLONASS and Galileo receivers on their booth and intend to run a series of demonstrations throughout the show.

Representatives from Spirent Communications and Spirent Federal Systems will be at the ION GNSS 2008 show where the Spirent GSS8000 GNSS simulator will be a key focus of Spirent’s exhibit.. Spirent Federal Systems is the Spirent affiliate responsible for sales of Spirent equipment in the Americas.

Please visit Spirent at booth D at ION GNSS 2008, September 17-19 for a demo or to speak with one of our representatives.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division
Spirent is the world’s leading provider of GNSS test and simulation systems. In this capacity, Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries across five continents and in over 50 governmental agencies. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning testing equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to emerging commercial markets

Spirent Communications Drives Data Center Evolution with Industry’s First Fibre Channel over Ethernet Test System

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter™ FCoE Allows Equipment Providers, Enterprises to Validate Performance of Data Centers

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced the launch of Spirent TestCenter™ Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Solution, the industry’s first test product to validate the performance characteristics of FCoE systems, an emerging technology for enterprise data center networks. A demonstration of this FCoE solution is being showcased at the Spirent Proof of Concept (SPoC) Labs and Collaboration Centers in Beijing, London and Sunnyvale.

FCoE is a proposed industry standard designed to extend data connectivity in addressing current and future business requirements. FCoE maintains existing management paradigm and tools for storage and will serve as a bridge between storage networking and other next-generation data center networks. Initially, FCoE offers SAN and systems administrators the benefit of being able to reduce the number of physical network interfaces in the server, which reduces costs and simplifies management. FCoE utilizes the mission-critical characteristics of Fibre Channel technology and works with existing infrastructure and applications.

The Spirent TestCenter FCoE solution helps assess the interaction of storage and data center traffic over a common interface. Built on Spirent’s Fibre Channel hardware and software expertise, the introduction of its FCoE solution demonstrates the company’s market leadership and commitment to advancing the development and deployment of the latest technologies. By leveraging its extensive expertise in the Fibre Channel and Ethernet marketplaces, Spirent delivers the most complete product of its kind with the ability to support Layer 2-7 network performance testing with a broad platform specifically designed for multi-play networks and multi-device technologies.

“Brocade is a pioneer who helped create the SAN industry and customers are now turning to us as a strategic and trusted vendor. Specifically, they are asking us to help them evolve their data centers with new technologies in mind while continuing to enjoy the benefits of the most innovative, high-performance data center fabric technologies available today,” said Marty Lans, senior director in the Data Center Infrastructure Division at Brocade. “With the only product capable of pre-testing the performance and interoperability of the FCoE protocol for storage networks, working with Spirent will help ensure that our FCoE solutions will maintain industry-leading latency and loss behaviors and maintain Fibre Channel-like integrity of data connectivity”

“Testing is becoming a strategic imperative for our customers, especially as they consider developing technologies such as FCoE,” said Tim Jefferson, general manager for Spirent TestCenter at Spirent Communications. “Spirent is in a unique position to serve this market since we are able extended our knowledge of Fibre Channel and Ethernet testing, and our expertise in the 10-Gigabit arena to develop the most comprehensive solution for testing a superior breed of storage network and data center solutions.”

Test engineers now have the ability to analyze a number of critical occurrences including the encapsulation of a native Fibre Channel frame into an Ethernet frame, the emergence of Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) to help ensure lossless fabric, and the effect of replacing a Fibre Channel link with MAC addresses in CEE environments. Spirent TestCenter FCoE provides support for FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP), a control plane protocol, and Priority Flow Control (PFC), the advanced quality of service protocol for Ethernet. Ultimately, users of Spirent’s FCoE solution can easily understand latency issues as well as the impact of packets which are dropped and scenarios such as loss of power.

Spirent Communications Expands Proof of Concept Labs to Establish Industry’s First Global Network Test Bed

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Company Opens Labs in London and Beijing that Leverage the Innovative Spirent TestCenter ™ FCoE Solution and Automation Continuum™ Framework

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced the launch of Spirent Proof of Concept (SPoC) Labs and Collaboration Centers in London and Beijing. These SPoC Labs feature a variety of pioneering Spirent test systems including Spirent TestCenter™ Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), the industry’s first test product to validate the performance characteristics of FCoE systems, as well as the Test Automation Alliance’s (TAA) best-in-class advanced automation framework, Automation Continuum™.

“With its best-in-class test tools, the SPoC Labs offer an ideal setting for evaluating product performance and capabilities,” said David Newman, president of Network Test, a leading independent benchmarking and network design consultancy. “The networked test beds, along with the advanced test automation framework and input from veteran test engineers, present a great environment for validating new consumer- and enterprise-centric technologies.”

The SPoC Labs feature the latest Spirent test systems for cutting edge technologies including FCoE, the next generation technology for storage networks. The SPoC Labs offer more than just network emulation capabilities by also allowing engineers to identify the performance of a system and ultimately assuring the service quality of experience (QoE) of next generation multi-play networks and multi-device technologies.

“Building on the success of our Sunnyvale Proof of Concept Lab, we’ve expanded our efforts to include facilities in London and Beijing to address the ever-changing and increasingly complex needs of today’s customers,” said Bill Burns, CEO of Spirent Communications Group. “Our SPoC Labs broaden both the testing and automation environment and clearly demonstrates Spirent’s ability to facilitate real-world testing on a truly global scale.”

Spirent Communications plc, Half-Year Report 2008

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, today announces its half-year results for the six months ended 29 June 2008.

Highlights

Revenue for the first half-year grew 6 per cent to £120.5 million.
Operating profit¹ from continuing operations up over 300 per cent at £21.0 million (first half 2007: £5.0 million).
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations up 214 per cent at 2.67 pence (first half 2007: 0.85 pence) after charging 0.16 pence (first half 2007: 0.16 pence) for share-based payment and amortisation of intangibles.
First dividend payment declared since first half 2002, with interim dividend of 0.5 pence per share payable in October 2008.
Cost savings of £6.3 million were realised from the restructuring programme in the first half 2008. Further savings of £1.2 million are expected during the second half-year. On an annualised basis this has increased the total savings from the restructuring to £31.7 million.
Total of £32.3 million returned to shareholders since 1 January 2008. Closing cash of £67.7 million (31 December 2007: £79.0 million).
Additional £50 million cash expected to be returned to shareholders in the second half-year.
Separation of Chief Executive and Chairman positions to be announced in the second half-year.

Performance Analysis

Revenue growth of 9 per cent in the first half-year to £88.1 million.
Operating profit¹ growth of 304 per cent in the first half-year to £18.2 million.
Growth in new and continuing products, with particularly strong performance in wireless test systems.
Substantial order book maintained.

Service Assurance

Operating profit¹ improved by £1.4 million on revenue down by 4 per cent as cost control more than offset lower sales.

Systems

Profitability continued to improve, up 24 per cent on the first half 2007, as a result of outsourcing and new product introductions. Revenue was down 3 per cent due to the impact of restraints on US government healthcare funding.

Edward Bramson, Executive Chairman, commented:

“We have continued to see good progress in the profitability as well as the consistency of the business. Revenue growth in the key Performance Analysis business exceeded expectations which, combined with the benefits realised from restructuring, resulted in a strong first half performance. Trading in July has given an encouraging start to the second half-year and the outlook for the rest of the year continues to be in line with our expectations.

“We are also pleased to announce the reinstatement of a dividend payment, the first to be paid since the first half of 2002. The significant progress we have made in building the financial strength and flexibility of the Group is reflected in this reinstatement alongside the continued commitment to return additional cash to shareholders.”

Results Summary

£ million	First half 2008	First half 2007		Change %
Reported
Continuing operations
Revenue	120.5	114.2		6
Profit/(loss) before tax	23.4	(4.5	)
Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)	2.85	(0.60	)
Adjusted
Continuing operations
Operating profit¹	21.0	5.0		320
Profit before tax¹	22.6	8.1		179
Adjusted earnings per share²(pence)	2.67	0.85		214

Notes
1 Before exceptional items.
2 Adjusted earnings per share is based on adjusted earnings as set out in note 8 of notes to the interim financial statements.

Enquiries

Edward Bramson, Executive Chairman	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767684
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Dowler/Sophie Sheppard	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares. The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter (“OTC”) market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209. Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

Spirent Communications Guides First Stage Of University Of Exeter’s £5.5 Million Next Generation Network Project

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Provides testing and consultancy expertise for project which will deliver 200 channels of IPTV and 1Gbps bandwidth to the desktop

Crawley, UK - Spirent Communications (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, is playing a crucial role in the first stage of the University of Exeter’s three year £5.5 million cross-campus network upgrade. The University used Spirent TestCenter and Spirent Avalanche testing solutions to assess switching and routing capabilities of network systems offered by various vendors. This performance testing process has enabled the University to gauge the vendors’ equipment and its capacity to handle ‘bursty’ multimedia traffic particularly when applied to unicast/multicast traffic, layer 4-7 networking elements, and security and failover testing.

In addition to testing, Spirent’s Global Professional Services group advised the University by providing measurement data to support vendor selection, and consultancy through the initial stages of implementation. Once complete, the University will benefit from a 100 Gbps next-generation network which will deliver up to 1Gbps bandwidth to students’ computers and over 200 channels of IPTV, enabling them to view content relevant to their courses and catch up on lectures.

“Spirent provided us with an invaluable independent evaluation and consultation process. By testing the equipment literally to the point of destruction it has given us assurance that the vendors selected for the project will meet the very demanding specifications of this network,” said Roger Snelling, Head of Networks at University of Exeter. “As a highly-respected public body, it is imperative that we are transparent and fair in the selection process, while getting the best return on investment possible. Spirent enabled us to do this and completed the work within five weeks from start to finish which is remarkably quick for a project of this size.”

“By emulating a mix of real-world traffic patterns and a mix of applications over the competing equipment, we were able to validate whether the systems could accommodate all the anticipated services and data throughputs,” said Leon Wynne, Director of Global Services at Spirent Communications. “Additionally we flushed out issues that needed to be addressed before the system was installed, which gave the University added leverage when negotiating with vendors for the final project. Not only did our objective perspective provide peace of mind for the university, we were able to ensure it will be in full control of the roll-out process.”

The new core infrastructure is currently being installed, and full deployment is expected on the University of Exeter’s smaller St. Luke’s campus by December this year. This deployment with edge devices, VoIP phones and wireless networking will act as a proof of concept for the main Streatham Campus. The system will also share the computing power across research networks DANTE and JANET.

Horry Telephone Cooperative Selects Spirent Communications as Service Assurance Solution Provider

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Supports Network Service Monitoring and Remote Diagnostics Operations

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced that Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC), Inc. selected Spirent to supports its network service monitoring and remote diagnostics operations. HTC, the nation’s largest telephone cooperative serving business and residential subscribers in Horry and Georgetown counties in South Carolina, has deployed Spirent REACT® Test Management Operations Support System (OSS) to ensure network reliability and improve customer satisfaction.

While voice applications continue to be the biggest revenue generator for telecommunications service providers, especially operators serving regional and local communities, there is a growing demand for services such as digital cable and high-speed Internet access. This is increasing the pressure to deploy test solutions that enable carriers to conduct complex test strategies, provision and manage multiple services in a multi-vendor network environment.

“HTC is committed to delivering the most reliable communications services possible at the best possible value to our members,” said Frank Sarvis, Chief Executive, Network Engineering of Horry Telephone Cooperative, Inc. “After an extensive search, we decided on Spirent REACT since its enables us to cost effectively deliver the highest quality of service (QoS) for multiple services with the ability to adapt to future testing needs.”

“Spirent has long been the important player in the service assurance arena with our market leading remote diagnostics and hand-held solutions,” said John Cunningham, Vice President Service Assurance at Spirent Communications. “This engagement with HTC, re-affirms our commitment to serving the requirements of the service provider community.”

Spirent REACT enables HTC to streamline its network services testing process by providing remote testing coverage in a configuration that reduces expensive hardware investments. Furthermore, this initial deployment not only addresses the current needs of HTC, it also provides the scalability and flexibility to expand the network and effectively monitor Triple Play services available to its subscribers. With a distributed architecture, Spirent REACT gives HTC unsurpassed visibility into network services to manage customer experience and QoS.

Spirent REACT supports technologies such as analog special services, DS1/E1/DS3/E3, high-speed DSL and optical SONET networks in the world’s largest and most complex data and voice networks. It provides an integrated service view with the ability to automate complex test strategies via expert dialogs, enabling providers to mainstream complex services. REACT’s multiple software modules and distributed architecture provide the basis for scalable solutions integrating visibility across technology layers, vendors and networks.

About HTC

HTC, Inc. is the nation’s largest telephone cooperative and the 25th largest telephone company. HTC offers local telephone service, long distance, Digital Wireless, Digital Cable, High-Speed Internet Access, and advanced Business Services such as Remote Recovery Services, Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) design, firewall and Virtual Private Network (VPN) security. HTC Communications, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of HTC, Inc., offers local telephone service in the city of Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Pawleys Island and the city of Georgetown. A full menu of communications services are available from HTC Communications including, local telephone service, long distance, Digital Wireless, Digital Cable and High-Speed Internet access. HTC also provides Fiber to the Home technology called HTC Bluewave, a state-of-the-art fiber optic network that delivers unparalleled bandwidth for extremely high-speed Internet access and data transmittal, 100 percent digital cable TV video, and traditional voice service through a single delivery point to a customer’s home.

CETECOM Expands its MediaFLO Testing Capabilities with Equipment from Spirent Communications

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sunnyvale and San Diego, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, and CETECOM Incorporated (USA) today announced that CETECOM has chosen Spirent FLO1-ATS automated test system for its MediaFLO™ /3G test lab in San Diego, Calif. CETECOM, a leading independent wireless technology testing and certification organization, took a huge step in becoming the first independent FLO™ certification lab by signing a Test Services Agreement with Qualcomm.

The FLO technology was developed by Qualcomm for enabling broadband multimedia services on wireless networks. The service runs in “parallel” to other wireless services, using dedicated frequency spectrum so as not to interfere with more conventional voice and data services. With Spirent FLO1-ATS, a FLO receiver’s compliance to the FLO Device Minimum Performance Specification (TIA-1102) can automatically be measured. Since the introduction of the Spirent FLO1-ATS in 2006, this fully automated system has been in use by major network operators and device manufacturers.

“As an independent testing and certification lab, we always seek the most efficient and accurate test platforms,” said Maan Ghanma, Director of Mobile Communications at CETECOM Inc. “The automation and stability in the Spirent FLO1-ATS will help us achieve our goals of providing our customers with efficient and cost effective testing.”

“Spirent FLO1-ATS meets CETECOM’s requirement for an efficient as well as a high performance test system,” said Rob VanBrunt, Vice President of Wireless Marketing at Spirent Communications. “With an efficient test process Spirent FLO1-ATS’s Receiver Blocking Characteristics test takes about 15 hours and test lab engineers can cut this down to 5 hours, without any operator intervention.”

About CETECOM
CETECOM is a worldwide leading provider in consulting, testing, certification and approval services for the wireless industry with state-of-the-art testing laboratories in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. The CETECOM network provides a unique service portfolio covering the entire life cycle of mobile and wireless communication products. For more information, please visit www.cetecomusa.com.

Spirent Communications Enables IP Video Service Providers to Overcome In-Home Network Complexity

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Tech-X Flex™ First IP Video Hand-Held Tester to Troubleshoot Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) Based In-Home Networks

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global leader in performance analysis and service assurance solutions, today announced the introduction of Spirent Tech-X Flex, a hand-held network and service quality tester to identify and troubleshoot IP Video services within the consumer’s home. This modular unit is the industry’s first solution to support testing of IP Video service quality over Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) networks. Spirent Tech-X Flex also supports current and future in-home networking technologies including Ethernet and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

With Spirent Tech-X Flex, telcos and cable TV operators can deliver the highest subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE) by verifying and troubleshooting both network and service related issues inside the customer premise. Spirent Tech-X Flex enables field technicians to easily address the complexity associated with in-home networks and roll out IP-based video services quickly and cost effectively.

“Despite the growing deployment of IPTV, in-home networks still pose a major challenge, and existing hand-held and remote diagnostic solutions only identify, validate and troubleshoot problems outside the subscriber’s home,” said Olga Yashkova, Industry Analyst, Measurement & Instrumentation, Frost & Sullivan. “With Spirent Tech-X Flex, field technicians can confidently validate the in-home network, thereby minimizing misdiagnosis and expensive replacement of customer premise equipment with no resolution to the problem.”

Spirent Tech-X Flex is the only solution that allows technicians to conduct in-home qualification of MoCA along with 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11 networks in a single unit. Furthermore, this solution is the industry’s first hand-held tester to support a dual MoCA test interface for in-home networks. With both dual MoCA and dual Ethernet interfaces, Spirent Tech-X Flex offers field technicians an in-line monitoring solution that helps them avoid issues with proprietary signaling between the set-top box and the video server.

“Spirent is an industry leader in remote diagnostics and field testing for Triple Play services and this latest introduction only serves to extend that leadership,” said Sean Yarborough, Director of Marketing - Strategy, Partnership and Field Test Solutions at Spirent Communications. “We listened to our customers, both telcos and cable operators, and developed a best in class hand-held tester for in-home voice, video, and data networks including those using proprietary IP Video middleware.”

Furthermore, the PC-like capabilities of Tech-X Flex allow effortless integration with back office systems, limiting the need to take the laptop out of the truck. Automated expert diagnostics accelerate the field troubleshooting process by analyzing and correlating various test results to identify faults and prioritize those with the greatest impact on service. By using this solution, service providers experience the benefits of reduced repeat rates for network installation and repair, and shorter job completion times for Triple Play network work orders.

New Industry Alliance Advances Product Development and Service Deployment Productivity

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Communications Leads Formation of the Test Automation Alliance (TAA)

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced the formation of the Test Automation Alliance (TAA), an ecosystem of best-in-class testing companies focused improving productivity across the entire telecom product development and service deployment life cycle. This first of its kind alliance promotes a common vision enabling service providers and network equipment manufacturers to optimize lab resources through advanced automation.

Achieving seamless, straightforward, sustainable and cost effective test automation is a significant challenge for lab managers. TAA offers a unique framework called Automation Continuum™ which integrates best-in-class test automation technologies such as lab management, configuration management, test authoring and test management.

“The Test Automation Alliance challenges the status quo and redefines testing as a continuum that integrates best-in-class lab testing tools to create a holistic approach to lab automation,” said Elisabeth Rainge, director of Network Software at IDC. “It focuses on the requirements of service providers and network equipment manufacturers to accelerate the deployment of new services and products as the testing cycles have begun to exceed development cycles.”

Test automation traditionally is developed and supported with in-house solutions that require labs to shift highly skilled test operators from testing and troubleshooting to creating and supporting complex in-house test automation environments. Today, automation technologies are highly advanced and much more cost effective to deploy, which minimizes the need for in-house solutions. The Automation Continuum enables test labs to either choose from a suite of device-agnostic, best-in-class tools targeted at advancing a specific area of their existing automation framework or purchase a complete test automation framework. No matter what level of automation the test labs have deployed, the alliance enables a continuum in automation advancements.

“TAA is a result of the ongoing dialogue Spirent and other alliance members had with lab managers and engineers who expressed concerns about diverse test systems and solutions that failed to interoperate effectively to address the complexity of testing emerging next generation technologies,” said Neil Anderson, vice president of Global Services at Spirent Communications. “With support from Spirent’s suite of test systems and managed services, test labs are now able to cost effectively advance automation to drive productivity in the testing process.”

Contrary to competitive rhetoric, while testing today’s complex technologies, engineers need to employ a combination of complementary best-in-class test automation tools to effectively validate performance of networks and services. Members of TAA have joined together to advance test automation by leveraging shared expertise, best-in-class automation tools and R&D investments to create a seamless, integrated Automation Continuum framework.

Members of this Spirent led alliance include EdenTree Technologies, FanFare and MRV. These companies have a proven track record of delivering unsurpassed automation technology and are committed to leveraging their combined expertise to advance the Automation Continuum.

Spirent TestCenter™ offers a game changing testing productivity by covering a broad range of network technologies from Layer 2 to Layer 7 for LAN, Enterprise, Metropolitan, Carrier and Broadband Access networks and their devices – all on a single platform. EdenTree provides a market leading software platform that delivers a dynamic lab environment that optimizes equipment usage, sharing and tracking. Fanfare's powerful test authoring and test management tools iTest™ Team and iTest™ Personal eliminate the need for manual and repetitive testing tasks. MRV brings a comprehensive set of physical layer tools that enable test automation of the physical layer and facilitates remote testing, reduces cable-related test errors and allows test equipment to be shared between multiple testers.

Spirent Communications Empowers the Telecom Industry to Serve the Next Generation Customer

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Delivers Testing for “Any Service over Any Network on Any Device, Anytime, Anywhere”

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced enhancements to Spirent Landslide making it the industry’s first “services-centric” test system that takes next generation network (NGN) testing to a new level. This comprehensive end-to-end solution is specifically designed for the “Any Service over any Network on any Device, Anytime, Anywhere” subscriber world - a world where seamless mobility and service delivery are essential to satisfying the quality demands of the next generation customer.

“NGN has redefined the end user experience and expectations by pushing converged network technologies to the extremes, and has created demands on service providers to deliver services that impact every aspect of their customer’s life,” said Brian Partridge, Director, Enabling Technologies – Service Provider, Yankee Group. “This means that service providers and network equipment vendors need to adopt a ‘services-centric’ network testing approach.”

Converged networks present a major challenge as they capitalize on mobility and are built on a model of successfully delivering interactive and engaging services across multiple technologies. The user expects the same Quality of Experience (QoE) regardless of the network technology. Therefore, ensuring end-to-end network service quality and validating the service layer are critical aspects to delivering the highest level of subscriber experience.

“The next generation customer experience is about delivering valuable and interactive services to highly mobile, information hungry subscribers over any network, at any time, to any device,” said James Brunson, Director of Converged Network Solutions at Spirent Communications. “Spirent allows our customers to look beyond just testing network elements to concentrate on system level QoE and Service Layer validation to bring high quality products and services faster to market – which directly impacts revenue potential and addresses needs of the next generation subscriber.”

With Spirent Landslide, the industry has a solution that tests any application over any access and any core network while simulating mobility and protocol interaction – all within a single test solution. This end-to-end, IP-based test system positively impacts the revenue potential of service providers and network equipment vendors by reliably and accurately validating both systems and services prior to deployment. By using Spirent Landslide, test engineers are able to significantly reduce the time to develop, execute and debug test cases, improve development cycles, and decrease engineering hours required to test new releases.

To create this “services-centric” test solution, Spirent combined key Layer 4 – 7 functionality of the Spirent Avalanche application test solution with the industry proven Landslide Performance Test System focused on wireless and converged network testing. This has created a solution that provides unmatched end-to-end application testing across mobile packet data networks, providing true QoE measurements for the key application services like Web browsing, file transfer, streaming voice and video, and other next generation services. With the addition of a new IPSec accelerator card, Spirent Landslide now supports increased throughput of encrypted data.
Spirent has also added the vulnerability assessment capabilities of Spirent ThreatEx, giving the user the ability to test mobile and converged network behavior and user QoE while undergoing a broad range of emulated attacks. Spirent Landslide’s now delivers double the data throughput and control traffic performance than available before. Additionally, the upgraded solution includes support for the latest Release 1 v.1.2 of the WiMAX Forum specifications, and initial LTE support for MME and end-to-end testing.

Spirent Communications plc, Termination of Registration of American Depositary Shares and Ordinary Shares under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK – Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”) (LSE: SPT; NYSE: SPM), a leading communications technology company, refers to the announcement on 25 May 2007 of its intention to delist Spirent American Depositary Shares (“ADS”) from the New York Stock Exchange and to terminate its registration of Spirent ADS and Ordinary shares under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). On 5 June Spirent filed a Form 15F with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) thereby terminating the US registration of its ADS and Ordinary shares. The Company’s Exchange Act reporting obligations have now ceased and termination of registration will occur ninety days after filing, subject to the SEC having no objections.

Enquiries

Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767704
Paul Eardley, Company Secretary & General Counsel

Andrew Dowler/Harriet Keen	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, 3G wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT) and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP number: 84856M209) in the form of American Depositary Shares (“ADS”), represented by American Depositary Receipts, with one ADS representing four Ordinary shares.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These risks include the risks described from time to time in Spirent Communications plc's Securities and Exchange Commission periodic reports and filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Spirent Communications and CTTL Sign Cooperation Agreement On Assisted GPS Testing For China

Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Agreement to Accelerate Successful Rollout of Next Generation Location Based Services in China

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced that it signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing based, China Telecommunications Technology Labs (CTTL). As a part of this agreement, CTTL, China’s leading wireless test laboratory and Spirent, the worldwide leader in Assisted GPS (A-GPS) testing will provide the China market with access to the best test tools, support and expertise to enable successful deployment of next-generation Location Based Services (LBS) on A-GPS enabled mobile devices.

The market for LBS using A-GPS is rapidly expanding worldwide. The Asia Pacific region is expected to show particularly strong growth, with widespread deployment already underway in countries such as Japan and South Korea. With its huge mobile subscriber base and its role as host of the 2008 Olympic Games, China is expected to be the next big market to accelerate its adoption of A-GPS technology.

“As the biggest mobile market in the world, China is eager to embrace the benefits that next-generation of location-based services is delivering in other leading markets. Comprehensive and reliable testing of A-GPS devices is a very important element in the timely and successful introduction of these services,” said Zhang Xiang, CTTL’s Director of Radio Dept. “Combining our own extensive wireless test experience with Spirent’s subject matter expertise in A-GPS testing will ensure that we are able to play a key role in meeting China’s current and future testing needs in this area.”

Under the agreement, CTTL will use the Spirent ULTS Location Test System as its standard platform to test the performance of GSM and WCDMA handsets for A-GPS RF Minimum Performance, Signaling Conformance and Secure User Plane (SUPL). As a lab approved by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB), CTTL will cooperate with Spirent for test validation and re-validation work with Spirent ULTS over the next three years.

“We are excited to be engaged in this long-term cooperation with China’s leading test lab,” said Gene Zhang, vice president and general manager of Asia Pacific at Spirent Communications. “We have been working closely with top-tier network operators and handset manufacturers in Japan, Korea and elsewhere and are pleased to apply the expertise we have acquired during A-GPS deployments in other parts of Asia to benefit China.”

CTTL will also use the Spirent ULTS to offer commercial A-GPS conformance test services to its customers. This is a crucial element in enabling Chinese network operators and handset manufacturers to quickly and successfully deploy A-GPS technologies. In addition, Spirent will apply its A-GPS standards development experience by cooperating with CTTL to develop an A-GPS standard specific to China’s needs.

About CTTL
China Telecommunication Technology Labs (CTTL), formerly the China Telephone Reference Equivalent Test Center (CTRTC), was founded in 1981 and is administrated by the Research Institute of Telecommunications Transmission (RITT), which is a non-profit public legal body under the Ministry of Information Industry (MII).
CTTL is a leading laboratory on the combined missions of Telecommunication technology development, standard and test methods research and products inspection and testing. CTTL has become an advanced national base in large scale with multi-function for telecommunication development and standard research, product testing and inspection.

Spirent Communications plc, Interim Management Statement (Unaudited)

Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK – 8 May 2008: Spirent Communications plc (“Spirent”, the “Company” or the “Group”) (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, announces the following unaudited Interim Management Statement for the period since 31 December 2007.

Trading performance for the period since 31 December 2007 is in line with the Board’s expectations.

The results for the first quarter of 2008 are set forth below:

Continuing Operations

£ million	1st quarter 2008	1st quarter 2007
Revenue	59.0	54.4
Operating profit/(loss)	9.6	(0.6)
Earnings per share (basic) - pence	1.22	0.07

Earnings from continuing operations include a charge in both quarterly periods of 0.08 pence per share for share-based payment and amortisation of intangible assets.

Performance Analysis

Revenue for the division, expressed in US dollars, was $85.5 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared with $73.3 million for the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 17 per cent. The increase reflects, in part, a comparison with lower than usual sales in the first quarter of last year and the Company continues to budget for sales growth for 2008 as a whole in the mid single digit range. Orders in April have been satisfactory and the division continues to maintain a substantial order book.

Service Assurance

Service Assurance saw two per cent growth in revenues in US dollars and generated an improved operating profit performance through a combination of a higher gross profit margin, due to an increased element of software revenue in the quarter, and reduced overhead expense.

Systems

Systems’ revenue decreased as a result of exchange impact and lower volumes. Profitability was maintained through cost control. A recovery in sales volume has been made in April.

Profitability

The improvements in gross profit margin and overall profitability of the Group reflect the realisation of benefits from the restructuring implemented in 2007.

Cash

The closing cash position was £66.7 million at 4 May 2008 (31 December 2007: £79.0 million) after an outflow of £22.5 million in the period for the share repurchase programme.

Outlook

We anticipate that trading performance for the year will continue to be in line with our expectations.

Edward Bramson, Chairman, commented:

“Spirent has continued to benefit from last year’s operational restructuring and April orders have given an encouraging start to the second quarter. We are also making good progress in new product development to address the opportunities created for us by continual evolution in broadband and wireless technologies.”

Enquiries

Edward Bramson, Executive Chairman	Spirent Communications plc	+44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Dowler/Harriet Keen	Financial Dynamics	+44 (0)20 7831 3113

The Company’s AGM is being held today at 10.30am UK time at the offices of the Company’s PR Advisers, Financial Dynamics, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London.

The interim half year results for 2008 will be announced on Thursday 7 August 2008.

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets

Spirent Communications Announces GSS8000 High Dynamics GPS Simulation System

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

New Spirent GSS8000 Offers Higher Signal Accuracy, Dynamics & Signal Quality

Paignton, UK - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announces improved high dynamic capabilities on its new Spirent GSS8000 simulation system. The Spirent GSS8000 is designed for use in the most demanding applications, and is capable of simulating ultra-high dynamics with industry leading accuracy.

The Spirent GSS8000 supports up to 20,000g signal dynamics, up to 120,000 m/s velocity and 50Hz (4ms) processing rates. Motion data can be generated using Spirent’s on-board vehicle models or using real-time high-rate host vehicle trajectory data over a remote interface. Spirent’s implementation supports full 6 degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) trajectory data. Low-latency hardware-in-the-loop capability is standard with synchronization and timing facilitated via 1 PPS in/out and 10MHz clock inputs.

In addition, the Spirent GSS8000 is designed to support Spirent’s range of options and extensions for testing advanced navigation and positioning systems. These include a range of GPS+inertial test interfaces, classified testing capabilities, interference effects, jamming signals and multi-element adaptive antenna (CRPA) antenna electronics units.
“The Spirent GSS8000 offers our customers the test capability they demand, for both today and tomorrow’s programs,” commented John Pottle, marketing director, Positioning Technology division, Spirent Communications. “We are taking the simulator performance to the next level with the Spirent GSS8000, while maintaining Spirent’s full range of options and classified testing capabilities that our customers have come to rely on, such as classified testing and full test support for future M-code receiver programs.”

Spirent's products are sold in the US and Canada by Spirent Federal Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirent Communications. You can learn more about the GSS8000 at their booth at IEEE/ION PLANS 2008 May 5-8, 2008 in Monterey, CA.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division
Spirent is the world’s leading provider of GNSS test and simulation systems. In this capacity, Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries across five continents and in over 50 governmental agencies. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning testing equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to emerging commercial markets

Spirent Communications Leads In Certification Testing Of Assisted GPS Devices

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent UMTS Location Test System First to Deliver Certification Testing of All A-GPS RF Minimum Performance Test Cases for W-CDMA

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced that the Spirent UMTS Location Test System (ULTS) now supports full certification testing of 3G Partnership Project’s (3GPP) Assisted GPS (A-GPS) RF Minimum Performance test cases for both W-CDMA and GSM devices. With this latest capability, Spirent is the first test equipment vendor to support all A-GPS testing standards including RF performance, signaling conformance and Secure User Plane (SUPL) Application Enabler.

Spirent ULTS is the industry’s first platform that enables mobile operators and manufacturers offering W-CDMA devices to certify 100 percent of the 3GPP TS 34.171 A-GPS RF Minimum Performance test cases. The validation and certification of these test cases are based on the requirements of the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB). In addition, for the first time, customers can validate GSM devices for multiple 3GPP TS 51.010 A-GPS RF Minimum Performance test cases based on PTCRB specifications.

“Having the ability to validate and certify conformance to industry standards is critical to commercial deployment of A-GPS enabled devices,” says Richard Catmur, Location Product Segment manager at Spirent Communications “In keeping with our commitment to advancing A-GPS testing, Spirent ULTS ensures our customers can be confident that their handsets and chipsets meet the quality and performance standards prescribed by the 3GPP.”

Spirent ULTS already validated five of the six TS 34.171 test cases and now supports certification testing of the sixth test case - Fine Time Assistance (FTA). FTA is a technique that enables improved receiver sensitivity and faster Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) by providing highly accurate timing information to the handset. Spirent’s validation of TS 51.010 test cases allows the evaluation of the A-GPS performance of GSM devices. The validated test cases include position accuracy, TTFF, multipath and dynamic range performance.

Spirent has been the leading provider of A-GPS test systems since the beginning of this decade. The Spirent ULTS system is used by all the world’s leading A-GPS chipset developers, handset manufacturers and network operators to test the conformance and performance of mobile A-GPS technology.

Spirent Communications Launches New GPS/Galileo/GLONASS Simulation System

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent GSS8000 Offers Unsurpassed Capability, Flexibility and Fidelity in a Single Unit

Toulouse, France - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, today announced the launch of its new Spirent GSS8000 simulation system, a signal generator unit for GPS, Galileo and GLONASS testing. The Spirent GSS8000 tests advanced satellite navigation technologies and offers enhanced capability, increased flexibility and improved signal fidelity.

With the introduction of Spirent GSS8000, Spirent continues to improve the accuracy and dynamic capabilities of its GNSS simulators. This new solution supports processing rates as low as 4 ms with pseudorange accuracy at 1 mm for many scenarios. The Spirent GSS8000 design allows for a wide variety of configurations from GPS L1 right up to comprehensive multi-RF output and/or multi-constellation test systems.

“The Spirent GSS8000 raises the bar for GNSS test in terms of capability and accuracy” said John Pottle, marketing director for Spirent’s Positioning Technology division. “It offers class-leading signal accuracy in all areas as well as the flexibility and scalability that our customers are looking for.”
Simulation of GPS, Galileo and GLONASS signals is acknowledged as the best way of testing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, systems and application performance. Only laboratory simulation can ensure controlled repeatable testing that explores both nominal and off-design conditions. By following a structured test approach, our customers can test multi-GNSS receivers, systems and applications resulting in shorter development times and improved performance.

Visit Spirent and learn more about this announcement at the European Navigation Conference, ENC-GNSS 2008, Toulouse, France, 23-25 April 2008.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division
Spirent is the world’s leading provider of GNSS test and simulation systems. In this capacity, Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries across five continents and in over 50 governmental agencies. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning testing equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to emerging commercial markets

Spirent Communications First Test Vendor to Earn Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem Compatible Product Certification

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent TestCenter Meets Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) Requirements; Ready to Test PBT Interoperability

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of IP network performance testing and service assurance solutions, announced today that Spirent TestCenter, Spirent’s innovative testing platform, attained the Nortel led Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem Compatible Product Certification*. The certification was provided at the Nortel Innovation Center for Carrier Ethernet located on the company’s Carling Campus in Ottawa, Ontario on January 31, 2008.

The certificate of compatibility, the first of its kind conferred by Nortel, confirms Spirent TestCenter is compatible with Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) technology, which uses industry standard Ethernet to drive a radical change in the economics of carrier networks. The certification also means Spirent TestCenter is ready to test PBT interoperability of hardware and software solutions in a carrier environment, thereby breaking down a key barrier to wide-scale adoption of PBT-based Carrier Ethernet in real world networks.

“The Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem relies on the range of skill sets brought to bear by its collective members. In this case Spirent’s efforts have led to a reliable and efficient tool to carry out our interoperability goals, which is clearly a great asset,” said Mike Adams, vice president of strategy and architecture, Metro Ethernet Networks, Nortel.

Empowered Networks, Spirent’s exclusive partner in Canada, played an integral role in Spirent TestCenter’s successful attainment of the compatibility certification. Empowered provided material inputs to evolve specific test cases for PBT trunk functionality and protection schemes, validating configuration management capabilities, 802.1ag Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) and ITU Y.1731 Ethernet OAM messages, and verifying performance, throughput and QOS. Empowered also demonstrated a number of ways to automate different aspects of the certification process, through leveraging unique features of Spirent TestCenter.

“Unique technical expertise and understanding of the newest technologies, combined with intimate knowledge of testing tools, are what Empowered brings to the table,” said Brian Hepburn, CEO of Empowered Networks. “Our team’s support of PBT interoperability testing, help demonstrate the business value of advanced testing capabilities, and the material contributions that Empowered brings to our customers and partners.”

"PBT certification by the Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem is a testament to Spirent TestCenter’s innovative system architecture that maximizes product quality assurance, and shortens testing and development cycles,” said Bill Burns, CEO Communications Group, Spirent Communications plc. “Additionally, Spirent TestCenter cuts a broad swath of capability by covering Carrier Ethernet performance, conformance and functional testing and giving test engineers a complete, integrated test solution to bring their products and services to market more cost effectively."
The Nortel Innovation Center for Carrier Ethernet allows ecosystem partners to rapidly develop and pre-test services without requiring a live, in-service PBT network, and to work towards a Compatible Product Certification to enable rapid deployment of PBT, as well as provides assurance of interoperability among solutions.

Spirent TestCenter is a single platform that accelerates conformance, functional and performance testing in converged networks. This platform comprises hardware and software components used by service providers, network equipment manufacturers and large enterprises to evaluate network devices and configurations for development, quality assurance, technical marketing, customer service and production. This innovative test platform has broad technology coverage from Layer 2 to Layer 7 on a single platform for LAN, enterprise, metro, carrier and broadband access network devices. Spirent TestCenter supports Ethernet from 10Mbps to 10Gbps and Packet over SONET from OC-3 to OC-192.

About Empowered Networks®
Empowered Networks® is a leading independent solutions integrator. Empowered simplifies and optimizes the test and management of next-generation IT, networks and applications by combining market-leading solutions from trusted partners with a comprehensive family of EmpoweredServices™. Empowered has earned the trust of many leading organizations in Canada by implementing modular, high value solutions for over 300 customers, including Canada's leading IT-dependent enterprises, communication service providers and network equipment manufacturers. Empowered is a privately-held Canadian company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices across Canada. For more information, visit www.empowerednetworks.com.

Spirent Communications Optimizes Supply Chain and Sets Benchmarks For The Testing Industry

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent and Celestica Deliver Significant Operational Savings

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced that it selected Celestica, a global leader in the delivery of end-to-end product lifecycle solutions, to manufacture its premier line of telecommunications test and measurement systems. Celestica supported Spirent in creating a new “Low Volume High Mix” (LVHM) global operations model to meet the unique demands of the test and measurement market, an industry that requires high quality, cost effective test systems that stay ahead of emerging technologies.

Spirent and Celestica analyzed the traditional models of electronics manufacturing and distribution to develop the LVHM model, which delivers the efficiency of a high volume, low variable operation. Customized manufacturing typical of the test and measurement industry is considered a costly and inefficient process. Spirent and Celestica approached the challenge by creating a model that implements low-scale and high-mix unit production delivering cost effective products while retaining the flexibility to respond quickly to changes in market demands. The LVHM model leverages low-cost outsourcing, electronic real-time inventory management systems, and a regional and global network of suppliers and distributors to generate the greatest manufacturing efficiencies and operational savings without sacrificing quality.

“We are excited about the results our new approach to LVHM manufacturing has yielded, we significantly lowered costs, improved responsiveness to market volatility, increased quality and ensured on-time delivery without sacrificing our ability to offer one of the industry’s most comprehensive product offering,” said Chris Wiese, Executive for Global Operations. “At the end of the day, we developed a supply chain strategy that meets our fiscal requirements and simultaneously delivers exceptional value to customers.”

In keeping with the strategic restructuring initiative started in 2007, Spirent’s supply chain strategy contributed to the company’s 2007 profitability and is delivering significant cost savings. Under the agreement, Celestica’s Thailand facility will manufacture Spirent products, as well as provide direct fulfillment services to Spirent customers throughout Asia and Europe. Spirent is leveraging Celestica’s best-in-class manufacturing practices, logistics and supply chain management, information technology and global purchasing power to meet the operational profitability forecast for 2008.

“Through our collaboration with Spirent, we developed a customized solution to address their complex requirements, as well as meet their needs for reduced cost and increased flexibility in the supply chain – enabling them to react quickly to changes in end-market demand,” said Pete Lindgren, senior vice president and general manager, Growth and Emerging Markets, Celestica. “We are providing Spirent with the solution it needs to increase its competitiveness and to set the benchmark for operational excellence in the test and measurement industry.”

Spirent Communications Announces Industry’s First L1/L2 GLONASS Simulation System

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent adds GLONASS L2 simulation to new GSS8000 platform

Paignton, UK. - (April 7, 2008) — Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced the addition of GLONASS L2 test capability to its new GSS8000 simulation system which already supports GLONASS L1 simulation. This establishes the GSS8000 as the industry’s first simulation system to support GLONASS L1 and L2 commercial signals.

Spirent has supported the GLONASS L1 signal in its simulation systems for many years. With this launch, GLONASS L1/L2 capability will be available both in a stand-alone system and also in combination with GPS and/or Galileo signals.

Simulation of GLONASS and other GNSS signals is acknowledged as the best way of testing receivers, systems and application performance. Only laboratory simulation can ensure controlled repeatable testing that explores both nominal and off-design conditions. By following a structured test approach, our customers can test GLONASS L1 and L2 receivers, together with GPS and Galileo, resulting in products or systems that are quicker to develop, more resilient and have higher performance.

“Recent announcements on the expansion of the GLONASS system have generated real interest in what GLONASS can offer to the GNSS community,” said John Pottle, marketing director for Spirent’s Positioning Technology division. “With the addition of GLONASS L2 signal to our existing L1 capability, we have achieved another Spirent ‘first,’ underlining Spirent’s commitment to invest in test solutions covering all GNSS systems and signals. In addition, the GSS8000 architecture supports simulation of the GLONASS L3 signal in future. ”

Visit Spirent and learn more about this announcement at the International Satellite Navigation Forum in Moscow, 7- 8 April.

About Spirent’s Positioning Technology Division
Spirent is the world’s leading provider of GNSS test and simulation systems. In this capacity, Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries across five continents and in over 50 governmental agencies. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning testing equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to emerging commercial markets.

Spirent Communications plc, Annual Report 2007 and Annual General Meeting Documentation

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

London, UK - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, announces that it has today posted the Annual Report 2007, Notice of 2008 Annual General Meeting and Form of Proxy to its shareholders. Copies of the following documents have been submitted to the UK Listing Authority, and will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing Authority’s Document Viewing Facility, which is situated at Financial Services Authority, 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HS:

Annual Report 2007
Notice of 2008 Annual General Meeting
Form of Proxy for 2008 AGM

The Annual Report 2007 and Notice of 2008 Annual General Meeting will also be available in the Investors section of the Spirent Communications plc website at www.spirent.com.

Enquiries

Michael Anscombe, Company Secretary

Spirent Communications plc +44 (0)1293 767676 About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, wireless and web applications and security testing. The Systems group develops power control systems for specialist electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets. Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com

Spirent Communications Enables Delivery of Reliable High Performance WiMAX Networks And Services

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spirent Landslide’s proven testing technology now accelerates WiMAX deployments

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announced WiMAX testing capabilities on the Spirent Landslide test system. Built on an industry proven mobile packet core test platform, Spirent Landslide WiMAX Performance Test System provides equipment manufacturers and carriers the ability to deliver reliable next-generation wireless broadband networks and services.

WiMAX is rapidly emerging as the leading 4G networking technology with carriers such as Sprint and Clearwire expected to roll out services by early 2008. However, the deployment of successful WiMAX networks depends not only on addressing issues related to network capacity and interoperability, but validating the performance of network equipment. The need for comprehensive end-to-end network performance test solutions such as Spirent Landslide WiMAX performance test system is greater than ever.

“Spirent Landslide is assisting Bridgewater in conducting rigorous WiMAX conformance and quality assurance testing to help ensure that our solutions meet the high standards service providers require for WiMAX network launch,” said Eamonn Garry, vice president of research and development for Bridgewater Systems.

For the first time network equipment vendors, service providers and mobile device manufacturers can ensure that the products, systems and services they deliver meet the quality of experience (QoE) expectation of wireless broadband service subscribers. The Spirent Landslide WiMAX performance test solution delivers a comprehensive set of features and functionality that enable WiMAX protocol and performance testing.
“In a market characterized by increased competition within the vendor and service provider community, Spirent is committed to providing high performance, automated solutions that enable customers to quickly and cost efficiently roll out new next generation networks and services,” said Bill Burns, chief executive officer, Communications Group Spirent Communications plc. “The addition of the WiMAX test capability to the Spirent Landslide platform continues Spirent’s tradition of providing highly scalable, easy to use performance validating solutions that help accelerate the deployment of new technologies.”

The Spirent Landslide WiMAX performance test system supports powerful real-world traffic generation and nodal emulation capabilities. This includes base station and mobile subscriber station emulation that provides user-defined control over all aspects of WiMAX core network performance testing. Furthermore, the test system is capable of testing the ASN-GW in a standalone configuration; the ASN-GW and CSN combined in an end-to-end configuration; or the CSN in a standalone configuration. In each case, Spirent Landslide emulates the devices that communicate with the system under test.

The Spirent Landslide WiMAX performance test system provides the most comprehensive set of measurements and capability available including WiMAX AAA and Data Protocols, per-session and aggregate measurements including latency, throughput, average and peak readouts and scales to meet, up to 32 test servers per system; up to 100,000 emulated MSS per test server; up to 1,000 emulated base stations per test server; and up to 1,000 attaches per second per test server.

Spirent Communications Launches Video Quality Analyzer (VQA) and GEM IP Network Impairment Emulator for IPTV

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance analysis and service management solutions, today announces the launch of two new products expected to accelerate the adoption of IPTV worldwide. Video Quality Analyzer (VQA) is a new, comprehensive tool allowing network equipment manufacturers and service providers to assess more than one hundred metrics related to delivering high quality IPTV. Spirent will be demonstrating its IPTV solutions on stand number 177 at IPTV World Forum in London, UK between the 12th and 14th March 2008.

The second launch is the TIA-921A feature on Spirent GEM – the industry’s leading hardware-based Ethernet Network Impairment Emulator from Anue Systems. The release allows for the emulation of ‘real world’ IPTV focused network impairments based on the American National Standards Institute /Telecommunications Industry Association ANSI/TIA-921A Standard and International Telecommunications Union ITU-T G.1050-2007 Recommendation.

Spirent VQA allows service providers and network equipment manufacturers to measure video quality and related metrics, while Spirent GEM allows users to emulate the ‘real-world network,’ complete with its ‘glitches,’ so that technology and delivery issues can be ironed out before IPTV services are rolled-out to consumers. This is crucial as it’s widely accepted that for IPTV to be successful, video quality must be as good, if not better, than as provided with existing TV delivery methods such as roof top aerial, satellite or cable. This need is particularly important in order for IPTV to gain a foothold in the lucrative market for high definition TV services.

Jack Douglass, director of video technology at Spirent Communications, explains: “IPTV is particularly complex to deliver and even small amounts of content or network impairments can significantly impact the end user experience. For instance 0.5% packet loss doesn’t sound like much but in the context of IPTV it’s enough to seriously degrade picture quality. Spirent has the experience, equipment and professional services that are needed to overcome the technically complex challenges of delivering high quality IPTV services. The launch of Spirent’s VQA and the TIA-921A feature on GEM help provide network equipment manufacturers and service providers with essential test tools that they need to monitor, analyze and troubleshoot IPTV problems under ‘real-world’ conditions prior to deployment.”

This view is supported by Steve Rago, principal analyst at iSuppli, who comments: “Telephone companies worldwide are transitioning from voice and data service providers to value added multi-media service providers. Their very survival depends on successfully executing on this strategy. The initial service that they are targeting is video. iSuppli estimates that from 2007 through to 2013 Telco TV will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58%, reaching over 150 million subscribers by 2013. A necessary condition for the successful transition to multi-media is providing a high quality consumer experience. iSuppli projects that 80% of the video subscribers will receive their video service over copper loop. This infrastructure poses significant hurdles to providing a high quality user experience in order to guarantee consumer satisfaction. Service providers need to utilize such tools as Spirent VQA and GEM to tune their networks for success.”

Spirent VQA is available in both a standalone and rack-mount chassis within Spirent’s flagship TestCenter platform already deployed at 330 service providers and network equipment vendors worldwide. This allows lower total cost of ownership, as well as seamless integration with existing test equipment, and the ability to use interfaces and functionality with which users are already familiar.