Automated tests are scheduled for a telecommunication network. A time slot
array is created and a subset of the time slots are marked as unavailable
according to respective maintenance windows. A remainder of the time
slots are marked as available. Trunk groups are sequentially selected for
respectively scheduling the tests. A particular available time slot is
identified in the array for both of the testing units corresponding to
the respective trunk group. The slot is marked as unavailable and then
each trunk circuit is sequentially selected within the respective trunk
group. A respective test is designated for a selected trunk circuit
during the particular time slot and a counter is incremented. A check is
made whether the counter indicates that a number of the tests have been
scheduled that fills a capacity of the testing units for running
simultaneous tests. If the capacity is not filled, then the method
repeats the designating step for a next selected trunk circuit using the
particular time slot. Otherwise, a further time slot marked as available
in the array for both of the testing units is found, the further time
slot is marked as unavailable, and the designating step is repeated for a
next selected trunk circuit using the further time slot.