Keysight says emulation software is first for O-RAN validation
Believed to be the first O-RAN distributed unit emulation software, Keysight Technologies’ Open RAN Studio extends its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) test portfolio for verification of any 5G network element.
The Open RAN Studio emulation software validates O-RAN-compliant radio units (O-RUs).
Keysight’s Open RAN Studio software combines visibility, validation and performance test capabilities across radio frequency (RF) and protocol measurement domains, to accelerate development and integration of O-RAN-compliant equipment from chip, network vendors and operators.
Keysight is the editor of the O-RAN front haul interface conformance test specification in the O-RAN Alliance which is helping to speed development of conformance validation and verify interoperability between O-RUs and O-DUs. The company also offers cross-domain test and measurement expertise, in both digital and RF. Keysight’s Open RAN Studio can be combined with signal sources and analysers to create a test environment, including 5G new radio (NR) modulation analysis.
The software verifies any 5G network element, from the physical layer to the application layer, said Giampaolo Tardioli, vice president of Keysight and general manager of Keysight’s Network Access Group. The test suite is designed to accelerate the delivery of innovative connectivity services for both consumers and vertical industries, he added.
Developers of O-RAN radio units and SoCs, such as Xilinx and SOLiD, have used the Open RAN Studio software.
“In this era of pervasive and connected intelligence, disaggregated network functions using O-RAN-compliant interfaces will help the industry realise the full potential of a virtualised network architecture,” said Dan Mansur, vice president, marketing, Wired and Wireless Group, Xilinx. He said, the partnership allows Xilinx to accelerate the deployment of our adaptive computing technology to create highly agile platforms that supports the stringent demands of 5G.
Keysight Technologies helps enterprises, service providers and governments to optimise networks and bring electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost with design simulation, prototype validation, manufacturing test, optimisation in networks and cloud environments.
Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, aerospace and defence, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics end markets.
