Spirent Communications Launches Video Quality Analyzer and GEM IP Network Impairment Emulator for IPTV

Business Wire, March 10, 2008

Demos the Most Advanced IPTV Testing Tools on the Market Today at IPTV World Forum

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.

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.

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