10 Reasons why you should consider NEBS certified network equipment (and why RBOCs insist on it)

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What is NEBS and why is it important?
Long a requirement for equipment used in the Central Office in the North American Public Switched Network, the rigorous Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) criteria have become a universal measure of network product excellence.

Reliability of the telephone system is considered a national security issue, is demanded by consumers, and makes good business sense. Therefore, NEBS testing is taken very seriously by both the RBOCs and other service providers.

NEBS burn test: The "burn test" is one of many rigorous tests NEBS certified equipment must pass.

Deploying NEBS certified network equipment is a key advantage for access providers including ILECs, CLECs, CAPs, ISPs, ASPs, and, of course, RBOCs. Products that are NEBS certified are also expected to be top performers in enterprise network environments as well.

Compliant vs. Certified
These terms are often casually used by equipment vendors as though they were synonymous. This is not the case. Most NEBS testing laboratories publish their testing procedures. Products that claim to be "compliant" are merely reproducing the rigorous testing procedures in-house (and very rarely perform them all).

While that makes for a better product than one that hasn't been tested in-house, it is still a long way from sending equipment to a nationally recognized testing facility and paying them tens of thousands of dollars to make absolutely certain that a piece of equipment meets the demanding standards NEBS certification requires.

10 Reasons why you should consider NEBS certified network equipment

1. Ensure equipment compatibility with the telephone industry's electrical environment.

2. Simplify equipment planning and installation.

3. Protect telecommunications equipment from service outages caused by incompatible equipment.

4. Prevent interference to licensed radio transmitters and other close proximity telecommunications equipment.

5. Minimize the risk of fires to telecommunications equipment.

6. Ensure equipment operation under the range of temperature, humidity, vibration, and airborne contamination present in telecommunications locations.

7. Ensure equipment and service survivability in the event of earthquake.

8. Protect personnel from injury.

9. Greatly reduce equipment failure rates.

10. Reduce customer churn. As new service offerings (call waiting, voice messages, etc.) slow down, customers are choosing providers with the most reliable network and minimum downtime.

The most successful telecommunication providers choose only NEBS certified equipment. Shouldn't you?