In a groundbreaking collaboration, Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) and VIAVI Solutions Inc. have joined hands to enhance their partnership, aimed at revolutionizing O-RAN radio testing solutions. The alliance, tailored to meet the specific requirements of radio manufacturers vying for the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) Second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 2), which centers on Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation, promises to set new standards in the industry. Since its inception, the partnership has garnered widespread acclaim for its compact, versatile solutions, drawing upon the combined strengths of both companies to deliver a superior user experience.
O-RU Conformance Testing: A Game-Changer
The scope of O-RU conformance testing, as defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE, is pivotal in ensuring seamless interoperability between O-RUs and the O-RAN distributed unit (O-DU). The integrated test solution features a suite of cutting-edge tools, including the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator, R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyzer, and the R&S VSE signal analysis software from Rohde & Schwarz. These components work in tandem to replicate a real-world radio environment, generating, capturing, and analyzing RF signals tailored for O-RAN applications.
Complementing this setup is the TM500 O-RU Tester from VIAVI, which plays a pivotal role in implementing the O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) functionality, crucial for configuring the interface with the O-RU and facilitating the exchange of I/Q data across the Open Fronthaul. The seamless integration of the O-RU Test Manager application serves as a centralized control point for the entire system, streamlining test case workflows and enabling in-depth data inspection and analysis where needed.
Expanding Horizons: Beyond Lab Validation
With O-RAN radios poised for commercial deployment, the focus has shifted towards expanding testing methodologies beyond mere conformance validation. The emphasis now lies on comprehensive use case and functionality testing within the realm of research and development. These evolving testing paradigms place a premium on simplicity, speed, and cost efficiency. Enter the R&S PVT360A – a compact, all-in-one vector signal analyzer (VSA) and signal generator (VSG) that seamlessly integrates with the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester and O-RU Test Manager Application. This synergistic configuration offers a scalable solution that caters to the evolving needs of R&D teams, enabling multiple test lines to accelerate time-to-market strategies. The TM500 O-RU Tester can be tailored to conduct direct performance assessments, encompassing uplink and downlink data performance evaluations as well as capacity testing.
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Driving Energy Efficiency in O-RAN Networks
As O-RAN radio units (O-RUs) occupy a significant share of power consumption within 5G radio access networks, the impetus is on enhancing O-RU energy efficiency without compromising performance metrics. In response to this industry demand, Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI have unveiled an automated testbed designed to validate O-RU energy efficiency. This innovative setup comprises a host of cutting-edge equipment including the R&S RTO6 oscilloscope, R&S NGP800 power supply, and the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester. The TM500 O-RU Tester, serving as a DU emulator, synchronizes and configures the O-RU while offering a range of test scripts to evaluate energy efficiency under varying load conditions.
The artfully curated R&S equipment, featuring the oscilloscope and power supply, enables real-time monitoring of dynamic device activities vis-a-vis power consumption. The oscilloscope meticulously tracks energy dynamics under diverse traffic scenarios, providing valuable insights into power variance over time. Meanwhile, the power supply not only powers the O-RU but also offers high measurement precision and accuracy over extended durations. Facilitating a seamless user experience throughout the testing process, the O-RU Test Manager Application rounds off this comprehensive suite, ensuring a holistic approach to energy efficiency validation.
