I have seen several posts on different boards stating that no evidence existed of interop telcom testing. Shown below is a blurb from the group that organized testing between many of the operators and equipment vendors (which included the company that I work for). I was involved extensively in these activities and can attest to the depth and scope of the test cases...

"During the Interop Testing project 54 configurations involving 80 different products and 21 vendors were defined and tested. A total of 1,914 test cases were executed in multiple labs and locations throughout the country from July '98 to Dec '98.

Within the described testing period, six Y2k failures were identified - all six failures were addressed by the vendor(s) and successfully retested by the forum."

It should be noted that all of the labs and operator switchs were connected by leased lines i.e., T1s and passing data back and forth. Additionally, I have enclosed a link to their website where they briefly describe the scope of tests conducted during the above interval.

http://www.telcoyear2000.org/

Be forewarned that they do charge for their reports...

Moreover, shown below is a link to the final report from another organization charged with monitoring Y2k testing between participants in the telcomm world:

http://www.itu.int/y2k/final_closure_report.html

Regards,

-- w holst (w_holst@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999

Answers

OH GOODY !!!

I'm glad that they are all 100% Compliant.

They are, aren't they ???

Well, are they ???

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.

Looks like good news for Telco and Y2k...Was the testing done by independents or employees of the companies? Are personal computers/desktops tied into these systems? Testing from Rotterdam confirms all PCs with Microsoft operating will puke after the first of the year.

-- Brian Bretzke (bretzke@tir.com), November 23, 1999.

Good post -- thanks for the numbers. Any idea as to whether the testing has gotten into the "non-mission-critical" systems yet?

The wireless company that I work for did a stellar job (if I may say so myself) in critical system remediation and testing (completed late 1998). I had assumed that we would then move into the "tier 2" and "tier 3" systems, which are important but not considered mission critical. There are dozens of these systems that will (not might) fail starting in December. It is a certainty the public will not hear about the failures.

All of the "tier 2" and "tier 3" systems directly and indirectly supply data to the "tier 1" (mission critical) systems. Those of us in the know here are worried poopless. We know that shortly our work days will be getting longer -- much longer -- for as long as we have jobs that is.

Since we are one of the largest wireless (pager and cell phone) providers in the US (and the world), I do not believe we are alone in our quandry.

Good luck to us all.

TA

-- TA (sea_spur@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.

There's also telcom interoperability tests available for free.

Go to: http://www.atis.org/atis/iitc/iitcdocs.htm and http://www.att.com/year2000/interoperability.html (you do have to click through a legal disclaimer).

-- here&now (telcom@telco.com), November 23, 1999.

(1994) The contractor for Denver Internation Airport made sure that each system was built and tested.

but when they stuck them all together and turned them on....well, you know what happened.

How long did it take to work around that problem?....oh right, they STILL aren't done with it.

-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.

Is live or is it Memorex?? Key point to ponder here: A total of 1,914 test cases were executed in multiple labsand locations throughout the country from July '98 to Dec '98.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com`), November 23, 1999.

y2k dave,

Not only were vendor's test labs connected - but we were also hooked up to live commerical networks. The testbeds are "mirrored" systems of our customer's networks i.e., contains all the elements that are present in a commerical network. We were passing traffic between the different vendors/OPERATORS, sharing billing records and sending VLR (visitor location registry) data for the wireless systems (over SS7 links). One of the divisions in Canada has approx 80 switches which allowed us to proprely emulate all of our customer's networks. Regards,

-- w holst (w_holst@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.

Been trying to reach BellSouth to discuss getting a cell phone. On land line, after main menu options, phone rang and rang and rang. Finally this little voice came on saying, 'No one answers,' and disconnected. Very informative. Then tried website. Two supposed links to cell phone store. Neither would take me there. But all is under control I'm sure. Want(ed)CellPhone

-- WantCellPhone (Mscribe@aol.com), November 23, 1999.

I am one of the ex Bell system people talking about testing. I am aware of the efforts that have gone into play to do everything possible to scour the network for problems and test the result. I also have an enormous personal regard for the rank and file holding this baby together in these interesting days.

Maybe I did not state it with the best level of emphasis, but my biggest concerns are:

A. The lab environment. I know there is no way we can stop for 24 or 48 hours test everything with everything else and feel 100% confident. But putting it all together in real time at a time when a hundred other issues could go wrong, go wrong, and figuring out what happened and how to fix it will take longer. "Trouble's leavin here ok..."

B. The changes in "the network" wrought by deregulation, new hardware/software/carrier players , and the realities of the business world with the emphasis on reducing costs and increasing profits to look good for the next quarter's earnings. This isn't the old days, and there are probably some positives in that. However, real world says there are a lot of tired people who are stretched too thin who work for bosses who did not grow up in the business. A lot of experienced, old-line pros have bailed or been asked to take early retirement.

C. There is a lot of cross breeding going on between voice and data companies. I have had a front row observation seat working in Silicon Valley for five years until a few months ago. That is a good thing in most ways, but there is a ghost of experience whispering in my ear that says remember what happened when IBM bought ROLM? A computer giant thought they were buying another form of computer company. Well, yes and no...

Effort counts big time, and I hope and pray the telecom industry comes out a winner in all of this. Winning "Miss Congeniality" is a frightening alternative. I wish we could all see around corners.

this is a real adress if you want to talk off forum

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.

"Effort counts big time,.."

Yes, and the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Hoc nomen meum verum non est.

-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.