Pioneering the 5G new radio (5G NR) network measurements, Rohde & Schwarz claims that it has developed the world’s first commercially available 5G NR network measurement solution. It enables users in the 5G network ecosystem as well as regulators to measure the 5G NR network coverage – one of the biggest challenges in network planning. Users can also verify the correct operation of beamforming and interworking between 5G and other technologies, adds Rohde & Schwarz.

Network operators worldwide are planning pre-commercial 5G network trials in 2018 and 2019. Their goal is to overcome the challenge of a more demanding and complex air interface and to deliver the commercial and technical benefits offered by 5G to customers.

Rohde & Schwarz’s 5G NR network measurement consists of a network scanner with matching 5G NR scanning software and the R&S RomeS4 drive test software suite. The system has been tried and tested in the field in pre-commercial 5G NR network trials conducted by Rohde & Schwarz in support of a Tier 1 operator and a global 5G NR infrastructure supplier.

Customers will be able to choose between two test scanners, the R&S TSME6 compact drive test scanner or the R&S TSMA6 autonomous mobile network scanner featuring a built-in network PC. Both test scanners are equipped with the 5G NR scanning software to cover both standalone and non-standalone network architectures. In addition, the R&S RomeS4 drive test software provides analysis and visualisation of all existing 3GPP technologies, such as GSM, UMTS/HSPA and LTE, including the IoT technologies NB-IoT and LTE-M. The drive test software either runs on the controlling laptop when used with the R&S TSME6 or on the built-in network PC of the R&S TSMA6, for measurement control via a simple tablet. Field measurements are facilitated by combining relevant test equipment with an appropriate antenna in a portable backpack or shoulder bag for efficient drive and walk testing.

The R&S RomeS4 software suite is designed to connect with 5G NR devices such as evaluation boards, USB dongles and pre-commercial smartphones as they become available. This allows adopters of 5G NR to gain early insights into a device’s performance and its interaction with real 5G NR networks.

The 5G NR network measurement solution is integrated into the Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing Smart platform. This platform provides intuitive and powerful drill down and analytics functions to maximise the value of the collected measurement data over the entire test cycle, from lab verification to field acceptance, troubleshooting, optimisation, benchmarking and monitoring.

The R&S TSME6 scanner with R&S TSME6-K50 5G NR scanning software, the R&S TSMA6 scanner with R&S TSMA6-K50 5G NR scanning software and the R&S RomeS4 drive test software are available now.

The 5G NR network test solution will be on display at Mobile World Congress Americas 2018, Los Angeles, stand S.2814 (12 to 14 September 2018).

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com