"Addressing interoperability head-on is very important. It is the number one reason TEMs (telecom equipment manufacturers) aren't reaching the mainstream market for standards-based communications platforms. Once this is tackled, other challenges such as availability and management can be effectively addressed. By developing a consistent methodology for interoperability testing, CP-TA is a logical choice to take on these challenges and help deliver the promise of interoperability that has been unfilled to date."

∼ Brian Partridge, Senior Analyst, Communications Network Infrastructure, Yankee Group
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Communications Platforms Trade Association?

The Communications Platforms Trade Association (CP-TA) is a global organization of communications platform and building block providers dedicated to accelerating the adoption of SIG-governed, open specification-based communications platforms through interoperability certification.

What is the CP-TA's mission?
The CP-TA's mission is to drive the creation of a mainstream market for open industry standards-based communications platforms by certifying interoperable building blocks from multiple vendors. This will be achieved by:

Who are CP-TA members?
CP-TA members include: Adax, ADLINK, Advantech, Alliance Systems, Astute Networks, Continuous Computing, DegreeC, Digi-Data, Diversified Technology, Emerson, ENEA, GoAhead, Intel, Interphase, Kontron, NMS Communications, Nortel, PFU, Polaris, RadiSys, Shanghai B-Star, Simclar and ZTE.

What is the scope of the CP-TA?
CP-TA will certify building blocks to interoperability test requirements based on existing open specifications from PICMG, the Service Availability Forum (SA Forum) and the Linux Foundation and on system-level profiles developed by SCOPE Alliance. Initially, CP-TA will focus on certifying building blocks to interoperability requirements based on PICMG standards.

What is the relationship between the CP-TA, SCOPE Alliance, PICMG and other standards organizations?
CP-TA is working with SCOPE Alliance, PICMG, the SA Forum, the Linux Foundation and other industry organizations that support the goals of the CP-TA. CP-TA will develop interoperability testing requirements and test methodologies and procedures based on the profiles created by SCOPE Alliance and specifications developed by PICMG, the SA Forum and other standards development organizations. CP-TA has signed a formal liaison agreement with PICMG and is also an active participant of the Mountain View Alliance.

What are the deliverables of the CP-TA?
CP-TA members have developed an Interoperability Compliance Document (ICD) and test suites that define objective and verifiable interoperability criteria. CP-TA will develop interoperability test requirements coupled with detailed test procedures, and supported by industry-harmonized automated test suites and benchmarks. These test requirements will be based on existing open specifications from the SA Forum, PICMG and OSDL and on system-level profiles developed by SCOPE. Periodic CP-TA Interoperability Plugfests will provide a confidential environment for the CP-TA community to harmonize the execution of automated test suites, as well as offer a true multi-vendor environment for enhanced interoperability testing.

The ICD 1.1 is available for download at www.cp-ta.org/certification/icd. The Test Procedure Manual is also available for download at www.cp-ta.org/certification/tpm.

How do you define interoperability?
For CP-TA, interoperability is defined as the ability of a system or product to operate in the intended environment, exchange information with another system or product and use that information without special effort by the customer. CP-TA is helping to create an environment of multi-vendor interoperability by making open specifications-based communications platforms a compelling alternative to proprietary architectures. Interoperability requires a common test environment that serves as a benchmark to compare communications platforms building blocks.

How will Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) benefit from the CP-TA?
CP-TA-compliant building blocks and SCOPE-compliant base platforms will help network equipment providers simplify the selection process, increase supply chain flexibility, increase predictability of successful integration and reduce lifecycle management costs. NEPs will benefit from the increased building block interoperability, innovation and competition that will enable them to build and deploy new products faster and less expensively. CP-TA completed a proof of concept demonstration comparing integration time based on CP-TA tested hardware components versus non-tested components. The exercise showed that integration time for CP-TA tested components was one quarter that required to integrate non-tested components. A white paper outlining the process for the exercise and the detailed results can be found here.

How will Service Providers (SPs) benefit from the CP-TA?
Service providers will benefit directly from equipment built from open specifications with greater interoperability, manageability and availability. SPs will be able to increase the flexibility of their network as well as realize faster time-to-revenue with new, innovative services and lower operational costs.

Will the CP-TA certify products?
CP-TA is establishing a compliance mark. Products that pass the compliance testing will be "CP-TA certified."

What is the CP-TA structure?
CP-TA is made up of three working groups with specific responsibilities for meeting the organization's overall objectives. The Technical Working Group is responsible for determining interoperability requirements and test plans. The Compliance Working Group is responsible for developing test procedures and compliance test tool, organizing plugfests and establishing a relationship with a neutral third-party lab. Lastly, the Marketing Working Group is responsible for creating CP-TA awareness and driving RFQ pull from Network Equipment Providers and Service Providers for certified interoperable building blocks.

Why join the CP-TA?
Member companies have the opportunity to help define interoperability testing by providing input to the Interoperability Compliance Document and participating in technical, compliance and marketing work groups. Membership in the CP-TA also allows companies to market their CP-TA-certified products.

How do I join the CP-TA?
CP-TA welcomes communications platforms and building block providers as members. Membership information can be found at www.cp-ta.org/join.