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Test Specifications and Frameworks
In 2016 we completed work on test specifications for
Smart Machine-to-Machine communications and created
a Specialist Task Force to work on oneM2M conformance
testing.
In support of 3GPP, we focused on conformance test
specifications for LTE-Advanced features in 3GPP Release
12. This included Frequency Division Duplex - Time Division
Duplex carrier aggregation, small cell enhancements (e.g.
dual connectivity), power saving optimisations, Wireless
Local Area Network/3GPP radio interworking, device-
to-device proximity services, and the Internet Protocol
Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), especially use of the codec
for enhanced voice services. We also addressed the
LTE-Advanced-Pro features in 3GPP Release 13, which
are required for the Internet of Things (IoT), especially
Narrowband IoT, enhanced machine-type communication
and extended discontinuous reception.

Interoperability is particularly important to the provision of
good Quality of Service and Quality of Experience in complex
end-to-end systems such as the IMS running over LTE. Our
Core Network and Interoperability Testing committee (TC INT)
produces specifications to facilitate the implementation of
IP-based networks that can carry both fixed and mobile
services simultaneously.

In 2016 we published an ETSI Guide (EG) on testing networks
that exhibit some form of autonomic adaptive behaviour,
such as NFV, MEC and Self-Organising Networks. We defined,
validated and produced various test specifications to support
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and we made good progress with a
framework for Internet-related performance measurements.

Methods for Testing and Specification
Our Methods for Testing and Specification committee
(TC MTS) creates standards for testing and specification The Annual ETSI International User
languages and provides frameworks and methodologies to Conference on Advanced Automated Testing
enable our other committees to produce documents that are
easy to understand and easy to use. This work is critical to (UCAAT)
the market success of numerous technologies. Organised by ETSI, with the support of TC MTS and
the CTI, the fourth UCAAT was held in October 2016
In 2016 we continued the evolution and maintenance of in Budapest, Hungary, and was our most successful
our enormously successful testing language, Testing and ever. The conference is dedicated to application
Test Control Notation Version 3 (TTCN-3), along with its tool aspects of automated testing including model-based,
conformance test suites. Cloud, mobile, test methodologies and management
and standardised test specifications, focusing on the
Test Description Language practical challenges that are often faced by industry.
However the main focus of our work was the promotion
and evolution of Test Description Language (TDL), the new
language we launched in 2015 to fill the gap between the The programme this year included topics such as
simple expression of what needs to be tested, i.e. the test ‘Internet of Things’, ‘Cloud and Big Data’, ‘Mindset
purposes described in prose or the Test Purpose Language for Automation’, ‘Continuous Integration’, ‘Advanced
(TPLan), and the concrete coding of executable tests with Automation’, Model Based Testing’ and ‘Behaviour
existing test specification languages such as TTCN-3. TDL and Context Driven Development’. The conference
exploits the benefits of model-based software engineering demonstrated the popularity of TTCN-3, and
and offers higher quality tests through better design and by recognised the important contribution of TC MTS to its
making them easier to review by non-testing experts. It is development and use. We also included a tutorial on
thus improving and accelerating test development without TDL which was very well attended.
sacrificing quality. TDL will be used primarily for functional
testing, but could also be used for other types of testing.

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