End to End Voice Quality Testing for Wireless, VoIP and Analog Networks

Welcome to the latest issue of GL's Newsletter, offering insights into our Voice Quality Testing solutions for telecom networks. We utilize industry standard algorithms such as Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Analysis (POLQA) and Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ) to ensure the highest voice quality in your communication experience.

Voice Quality Testing

Overview

GL's Voice Quality Testing (VQT) software actively supports the next generation of voice quality testing standards for fixed, mobile, and IP-based networks. GL’s VQT software utilizes the POLQA algorithm (ITU-T P.863), both version 2.4 and latest version 3.0. Additionally, the GL VQT software can be optionally licensed to include the PESQ algorithm (ITU-T P.862) which supports LQ/LQO and Wideband enhancements.

GL VQT analyzes Recorded (Degraded) voice files, comparing them with the Reference (sent) voice files using the POLQA and PESQ algorithms for Narrowband (NB), Wideband (WB) and Super Wideband (SWB) audio files and supporting both Raw PCM and WAV formats.

GL VQT works with the GL VQuad™ as well as vMobile™ solutions along with all GL audio capturing tools and can also work with non-GL capturing tools to provide a comprehensive end-to-end audio assessment generating the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) along with additional audio metrics such as Signal and Noise levels, SNR, and Jitter.

Both VQuad™ with the GL Dual UTA HD hardware and hand-portable vMobile™ solutions include automated scripting support for call control and traffic emulation on mobile and radio Wireless networks. The VQuad™ solution also supports testing on PSTN and IP networks. Captured audio during these tests are analyzed by the VQT POLQA or PESQ algorithms generating results in both tabular and graphical formats.

VQT POLQA Measurements and Analysis

The GL VQuad™ with Dual UTA HD hardware is PC-based and supports testing a variety of networks, including Wireless (3G, 4G, LTE, 5G), PTT (Push to Talk) for Mobile Radios, VoIP SIP, and 2-wire Analog (FXO – simulates analog phone).

The vMobile™ – Portable VQT Test Solution is a handheld device which can support full audio testing for mobile phones and mobile radios, as well as providing data testing for mobile phones. The vMobile™ can be hand-carried for walk and drive testing (includes GPS) as well as left in labs and can work directly with GL’s VQuad™ solution for very flexible end-to-end testing. All functionality and configuration of the vMobile™ is accessed using the remote web-based Console or Console App which is installed on any Android or iOS device.

GL has improved its voice quality test with AutoVQT™, an advanced automatic application that utilizes the POLQA algorithm (following the ITU-T P.863 version 2.4 standard). This enhancement allows for the analysis of thousands of voice files within minutes, effectively evaluating the quality of voice communication across various applications, including VoIP, Mobile, and PSTN networks.

In addition, the GL VQT solution which includes the VQT software, VQuad™ solution, and vMobile™ solution can be remotely operated using Command Line Interface (CLI) and Application Programming Interfaces (API) functions, supporting Windows®, Linux®, and Mac operating systems. The results of the VQT algorithm are reported directly in the stand-alone VQT application while also being saved to VQT log files. These results can also be sent to a Central Database where GL’s web-based dashboard, known as WebViewer™, is deployed. All results are saved to database for post-processing viewing, featuring sophisticated searching through WebViewer™ for both remote and local access.

Additionally, these results or events can be plotted directly on Google Maps within the WebViewer™ when GPS is available during the Drive or Walk test. When GPS is unavailable, the VQuad™ and vMobile™ Indoor Tracking option will plot the results on user-provided JPG floor plans or location diagrams associated with the testing environment.

Key Features

  • Voice quality testing using POLQA version 2.4 (ITU-T P.863), with an upgrade to POLQA version 3 (ITU-T P.863), and PESQ (ITU-T P.862)
  • POLQA v3 updates validate a redesigned perceptual model for Full Band Audio analysis, supporting VoLTE, 5G, and OTT apps with EVS and OPUS codecs
  • Supports Narrowband (8000 sampling), Wideband (16000 sampling), and Super Wideband (48000 sampling) for both PCM and WAV files
  • Evaluate audio quality with MOS, E-Model, SNR, jitter, clipping, signal level, noise level, and delay measurements
  • Playback and display of audio files from within VQT using Goldwave software
  • Complete automatic logging of all results (both file and database) and sophisticated search features with the ability to import logs back into VQT
  • Central DB Primary and Secondary IP addresses support backup and redundancy
  • Real-time mapping (most countries supported) of results when optional GPS is used in conjunction with VQuad™/vMobile™
  • The CLI supports remote VQT nodes on Windows® and Linux® operating systems
POLQA® is a registered trademark of OPTICOM. GL is one of the Test & Measurement manufacturers that has adopted POLQA/P.863 in its Voice Quality Test solution, by obtaining the essential rights to use POLQA® standard, and hereby acknowledge that the images or text references to POLQA used in this document originally copyrights with Opticom.

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