Anritsu has announced the availability of a new solution for evaluating the video quality of 5G devices. This lab-based solution was developed in partnership with Spirent Communications plc and leverages the strengths of Anritsu’s SmartStudio NR Network Simulator and Spirent’s Umetrix Video software, providing the world’s first integrated 5G video quality system.
Development Background
The accelerating shift from 4G to 5G mobile communications, as well as increasing adoption of teleworking, are driving increased viewing of streamed video content and growing use of online meeting tools. As a result, video-quality experience is a key factor influencing a user’s choice of a 5G mobile operator and smartphone brand. Consequently, mobile operators, 5G device vendors, and content providers urgently need a solution for evaluating the video quality of 5G devices.
Integrated Solution
This solution integrates the Anritsu Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A and SmartStudio NR (SSNR) control software with the Spirent Umetrix Video system for evaluating video quality.
The MT8000A operates as a 5G call box by simulating a 5G base station and core network using a state-machine-based graphical user interface (GUI). Users can simulate a full range of 5G network conditions, including Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) topologies at Frequency Range 1 (FR1) or Frequency Range 2 (FR2) frequencies without creating protocol scripts. Testing of throughput, mobility, VoNR, EPS-Fallback, SMS, CMAS, CDRX, and other functions can be easily performed using the SSNR GUI.
SSNR’s flexible network settings, as well as its simple reproduction of a live 5G network environment, facilitate easy and effective analysis of video quality. Moreover, support for many APIs accelerates the configuration of customers’ automation environments.
Spirent’s Umetrix Video evaluation system measures the receive-side quality of streamed video content by scoring Quality of Experience (QoE) using Video Mean Opinion Scoring (V-MOS) from only the receive-side. It supports video-streaming services and video-content analysis by scoring the original video without prior display, facilitating faster and lower-cost repeatable design tests, regression tests, and competitor benchmarking.
