Software accelerates 5G core network test
LoadCore software by Keysight Technologies combines 5G New Radio (NR) deployment in standalone mode with a virtualised network architecture to allow mobile operators to take full advantage of new mobile communications standards and move from an evolved packet core (EPC) to 5GC.
According to Keysight, operators can efficiently use network slicing to allocate resources for different use cases. Mobile operators need to manage a massive number of devices and connections in support of service level agreements (SLAs) for both consumers and industry, explained Keysight.
The LoadCore 5GC Testing software simulates complex real-world subscriber models to enable mobile operators and network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) to qualify performance and reliability of voice and data transferred over 5GC networks. Carrier-grade quality of service (QoS) benefits consumers accessing data intensive applications, such video and gaming and businesses that rely on critical IoT applications in sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, energy and utilities.
Keysight’s LoadCore 5GC Testing software is part of an integrated test portfolio that enables a connected ecosystem to consistently validate the performance of the network from the edge of the RAN to the cloud. The portfolio is designed to allow mobile operators and network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) to validate both 5G and legacy radio access networks (RANs), as well as the 5GC.
“5G networks require advanced capabilities to be verified including elastic scaling of network nodes, network slicing and multi-access edge computing (MEC) when simulating the behaviour of millions of UEs,” said Kalyan Sundhar, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s Edge-to-Core Group. He went on to explain that the LoadCore 5GC cloud-native testing software enables service providers and network equipment manufacturers to validate the 5G Core networks as they progress from development to deployment.
LoadCore 5GC Testing software enables users to perform network capacity tests, measure device data throughput and model a wide variety of end-user behaviour and mobility scenarios. The scalable 5GC network performance validation can verify that delivered connectivity service remains stable under various demanding conditions such as sudden spikes in network usage caused by disasters or other major events.
