ETSI Conformance Testing

Conformance testing is done to determine whether a system meets a specified standard. ETSI has over ten years' experience producing conformance test specifications for UMTS^TM, IPv6, HiperMAN, WiMAX, GSM, DECT^TM, TETRA, ISDN, VoIP and other key technologies. These test specifications are used by manufacturers as a basis for internal development testing.
ETSI test specifications are usually developed by a Specialist Task Force (STF), which is a group of experts recruited from the ETSI membership and managed by the Centre for Testing and Interoperability.

Conformance Testing for Interoperability

ETSI test specifications are designed to concentrate on areas critical to interoperability, including testing an implementation's reaction to erroneous behaviour. The goal is conformance testing for interoperability. This should not be confused with interoperability testing, which is a useful, but different, activity. The two approaches are complementary rather than competitive, which is why ETSI also provides a Plugtests™ Service for interoperability events for standards and product validation. A focused set of conformance tests can provide an excellent framework for subsequent interoperability testing.

Conformance Testing feedback into Standards Making Process

In many cases, development of the test specifications gives valuable feedback to the base standards. The test specifiers make a special effort to ensure that their experiences are fed back to the relevant ETSI technical committee. However, development of the base standard and of test specifications must be done in a coordinated and timely manner for this input to be effective.

Download the Methods for testing and Specification technology leaflet
Download the Global Testing Language (TTCN3) technology leaflet
Download the IMS Network Testing technology leaflet

Testing Methodology Respected by ETSI

ETSI follows the well-proven testing methodology defined in ISO/IEC 9146. This standard, which covers the entire testing process, provides an excellent basis for the development of high-quality test specifications.
The following diagram shows the development of test specifications process, acronyms are explained below.

Test specifications development process

The Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS) is a checklist of the capabilities supported by the Implementation Under Test (IUT). It provides an overview of the features and options that are implemented. The ICS can be used to select and parameterise test cases and as an indicator for basic interoperability between different products.
The Test Suite Structure and Test Purpose (TSS&TP) are derived from the relevant base standards. They provide an informal, easy-to-read description of each test, concentrating on the meaning of the test rather than detailing how it may be achieved. Test Purposes are grouped into a logical Test Suite Structure according to suitable criteria (basic interconnection, error handling, functionality etc.).
The Abstract Test Suite (ATS) is the entire collection of Test Cases. Each Test Case specifies the detailed coding of the Test Purposes, written in the standardized test specification language TTCN.
The Implementation eXtra Information for Testing (IXIT) contains additional information (specific adresses, timer values etc.) necessary for testing.
The Executable Test Suite (ETS) can be quickly and easily implemented from the ATS using the TTCN compilers available on most modern test tool platforms.

Finding ETSI Test Specifications

ETSI test specifications can be downloaded via the ETSI Work Programme application.
Keywords can be added to facilitate your search, the following are related to testing:
• ATS (Abstract Test Suite)
• TTCN
• PICS (Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement)
• ICS (Implementation Conformance Statement)
• TSS&TP (Test suite structure and Test purposes)
• Testing
• Conformance
To select more than one, hold the Ctrl button and click on the keywords required. When more than one keyword is selected, you can combine them either with the OR function ('one of') or the AND function ('all').

The following is a list of recently published and frequently downloaded standards. Please use the ETSI Work Programme to find further related standards.