FCC is requiring the service providers who have received government funding under various programs including Connect-America Funding (CAF) to perform quarterly speed and latency testing a randomly selected test subjects within various speed / service tiers. More detailed specification for the testing procedure can be found here:

Webinar:
CAF II Performance Testing Update

Thursday, April 18, 2019 

Testing methodology

The FCC mandate performance testing includes two aspects: Speed and Latency testing. The performance testing can be conducted by placing a hardware device in the home of the test subject, called white boxes or by using existing CPE equipment to conduct testing.

There are primarily three options available to service providers for conducting these performance testing

1. Measuring Broadband America (MBA) testing set-up conducted by USAC. This method uses white boxes and is a turnkey solution
2. Other third-party white box solutions
3. Service provider developed solution: This method primarily using testing program developed by service providers in partnership with solution vendors like TR-69 ACS providers. This method also typically uses existing CPE to conduct the tests instead of white boxes specific designed for performance testing
   • TR-143 protocol, which is part of TR-69 suite of protocols could be used for conducting only the speed part of the performance tests
   • Ping tests could be used to perform Latency testing

TR-143 protocol requires that these tests be initiated by the TR-69 ACS server. They cannot be triggered by the CPE TR-143 testing uses HTTP or FTP to perform upload and download diagnostic tests TR-143 test flow description: ACS initiates test by providing information about the test and test server CPE starts the test by uploading and downloading files from the designated test server After completion of the tests, CPE notifies ACS ACS retrieves the test results from CPE		Capacity and configuration of the test server that saves the file for upload/download The processor speed of the CPE. Modern CPEs use hardware accelerators for high-speed performance. TR-143 does not engage the hardware accelerators so may not reflect the “real” performance The overall traffic load in the subscriber homes The traffic load and the condition of the network connecting the test servers with the CPE Test file size

Difference between TR-143 and Ookla speed tests

TR-143 tests are conducted between the CPE and Test server whereas Ookla tests are conducting between the Ookla client and the Ookla test server. The Ookla client is installed on laptop computer or mobile device. The Ookla test mimics the general behavior of broadband service where the CPE is conducting the traffic between home network and the internet. Ookla tests also engage the hardware accelerators within the CPE to more accurately represent the true provisioned speed of the of the broadband service for the subscriber. Zyxel CPEs, when tested with Ookla, demonstrate speeds as referenced in marketing material.

Zyxel CPE recommendations

Zyxel has been engaged in enhancing TR-143 implementations to provide the best TR-143 speeds with our CPE. FCC performance testing requirements depend on the service or speed tier that the service provider has received funding for and deployed. Here’s our guidelines for the Zyxel CPE most suitable for TR-143 based testing in relation to different speed tiers.

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