Embracing the Future: TR-471 vs. TR-143 Speed Testing in the Gigabit Era

In today’s landscape of ever-increasing broadband speeds, accurately measuring network performance is critical. As service providers and equipment vendors navigate the Gigabit era, traditional speed testing methods like TR-143 are beginning to show their limitations. In response, the Broadband Forum introduced TR-471—a modern, UDP-based approach designed to reveal the true capacity of high-speed networks. AVSystem, a leader in ACS device management solutions with integrated diagnostic tools, fully supports TR-471 and proudly recommends vendors who have embraced this new standard.

The Water Pouring Analogy: A Tale of Two Approaches

Imagine you want to fill a glass with water, but you have two very different techniques:

• TR-143: The "Careful Spoon-by-Spoon" Approach
  Think of filling your glass slowly with a small teaspoon. You begin cautiously to avoid any spills, then gradually switch to a larger spoon, and finally use another glass to speed up the process. This method mirrors how TR-143 relies on TCP’s slow-start, congestion control, and careful cleanup. The result? A conservative estimate of network performance that underreports the true capacity—ideal for stable, congestion-controlled environments but less accurate for today's high-speed, real-world networks

• TR-471: The "Big Bucket" Approach
  Now, imagine grabbing a large bucket and pouring water into the glass all at once. Yes, some water might splash out, but you quickly determine the maximum amount that can be transferred in a short period. TR-471 takes a similar stance by using UDP to flood the network and measure the raw IP-layer capacity, bypassing the conservative constraints of TCP. This results in a fast, aggressive, and highly accurate measurement—essential for Gigabit networks where every bit of performance counts.

Deep Dive: Technical Comparison

Measurement Methodology

• TR-143:
  
  • Protocol: Relies primarily on TCP for throughput testing.
  • Testing Style: Uses a step-based, fixed-rate approach where gradual ramp-up and congestion control can delay reaching peak performance.
  • Accuracy: Tends to underreport speed due to inherent limitations like TCP’s slow start and sensitivity to packet loss.
• TR-471:
  • Protocol: Embraces a native UDP-based approach, better aligning with modern transport protocols such as QUIC and RTP.
  • Testing Style: Implements a dynamic Sending Rate Search Algorithm, allowing for rapid determination of maximum IP-layer capacity—even if some packets are lost.
  • Accuracy: Provides a true reflection of network capabilities by directly measuring the maximum achievable throughput.

• TR-143:
  • Impacted by TCP congestion control mechanisms (e.g., CUBIC, Reno), which may not accurately reflect real-world conditions, especially in high-speed environments.
• TR-471:
  • Bypasses the bottlenecks of TCP, offering a realistic view of network performance by measuring raw capacity without the interference of congestion control.

Key Improvements of TR-471 over TR-143 for CPE Performance

The table below outlines the core improvements of TR-471 when compared to TR-143, specifically in the context of CPE performance and native feature support:

Impact on CPE Performance and Vendor Ecosystem

For device management systems like ACS, having precise and actionable performance data is paramount. TR-471’s UDP-first approach means that broadband service providers can:

• Accurately Diagnose Network Bottlenecks: By revealing the maximum IP-layer capacity, TR-471 provides insights that help pinpoint performance issues.
• Optimize CPE Performance: With fine-grained metrics such as one-way loss, delay variation, and packet reordering, vendors can fine-tune devices to better handle modern traffic patterns.
• Automate and Scale Testing: Integration with TR-069 and TR-369 allows for remote scheduling and automated diagnostics, reducing the need for manual intervention and enabling large-scale performance monitoring.

Conclusion

In the race towards Gigabit connectivity, relying on outdated methods like TR-143 can leave networks under-optimized and service quality misrepresented. TR-471 offers a clear advantage with its fast, aggressive, and highly accurate measurement capabilities. By adopting TR-471, network operators can obtain a true picture of their network’s performance, ensuring that both the hardware and the customer experience are optimized for the future. Furthermore, accurate speed testing plays a critical role in verifying service SLAs for end users, which is vital for tracking customer satisfaction and reducing client churn—ultimately protecting your business.
At AVSystem, we are committed to leading this transformation. With full support for TR-471 in our ACS platform and partnerships with forward-thinking vendors, we are ready to help you unlock the full potential of your network in the Gigabit era. And if you're curious about how Ookla Speed Test compares with TR-143, stay tuned for our next blog post exploring that topic.