Rohde & Schwarz and LG verify wireless emergency alerts
New FCC enhanced targeting rules, due to take effect this month, will mean that providing the ability to geo-target residents who receive wireless emergency alerts (WEA) will soon be a mandatory requirement.
Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with LG Electronics Mobile Comm USA have verified WEA 3.0 features related to geo-fencing using an LG G8 ThinQ mobile smartphone. The enhanced targeting rules imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), require wireless providers to reach 100 per cent of the targeted geographic area specified by government issuers, with no more than a 0.1-mile (160m) overshoot.
WEAs are a critical part of the nation’s emergency readiness system for warning the public about dangerous weather, missing children and other emergencies. Geographic targeting is a necessary mobile device feature as alerting citizens not affected by a specific emergency could cause unnecessary panic and safety risks.
The Rohde & Schwarz solution consists of the R&S CMW500 radio communication tester and the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. The solution verifies mobile device signalling according to WEA 3.0 geo-fencing specifications. It can also cover 3GPP conformance and network operator test plans for LTE, WLAN, WCDMA and GSM location-based services.
Bryan Helmick, product manager for mobile radio testers at Rohde & Schwarz USA, explained, “Test systems that can verify device compliance are critical to the successful roll-out of the FCC’s enhanced targeting requirements. This effort between Rohde & Schwarz and LG Electronics helps to further the commercial rollout of WEA 3.0 and geo-fencing.”
