Advanced Access Lab

The Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab based at Vodafone InnoV8 allows for end-to-end network testing on Vodafone’s infrastructure, utilises the latest innovative technology, and is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Vodafone xone is interested in collaborating with businesses to develop solutions which enhance user experience on the Vodafone network for both consumer and enterprise applications.

Production Ready

The Innovation Lab contains an end-to-end replica of the Vodafone network allowing testing and development of network solutions that accurately reflect the characteristics of the production environment.

The equipment has been set up to allow the lab to be run as a Lab as a Service setup, allowing for rapid and dynamic reconfiguration, scheduling, and testing. Configuration is cloud-based, allowing for access unlimited by geography.

The Lab Equipment

• Optical Fibre Layer – Ciena 6500-T12
  This makes up and connects the lab to the nation-wide fibre optic backbone network that traverses almost 10,000 km around New Zealand.
• IP Layer: Nodes – Juniper PTX 3000
  Resilient, scalable, and high performance IP core for routing between central nodes.
• IP Layer: Aggregation – Huawei PTN & ATN
  Aggregation of fixed and mobile traffic to support bulk transmission between nodes using shared infrastructure.
• Mobile Radio Access Network – Nokia RF Modules and Huawei ATN Router
  Hardware to emulate RF transmission, isolated from environment RF through the use of a Faraday cage.
• Network Function Virtualisation – HPE NFV
  Consolidation of control, computational, and storage systems into a single stack, allowing for a more dynamic and configurable network layer.