Rohde & Schwarz announced that they have extensively tested the user plane throughput of Category 9 in compliance with 3GPP Release 10 for LTE-Advanced. Category 9 as defined by the 3GPP release is a maximum L1 downlink datarate of 452.2 Mbit/s and uplink datarate of 51 Mbit/s with 2 or 4 MIMO layers. Utilizing a new Qualcomm Technologies LTE-Advanced modem, Rohde & Schwarz has successfully demonstrated the ability to sustain full protocol stack data rates for LTE Category 9. This milestone gives mobile operators a clear path to the commercial launch of LTE-A 3x Carrier Aggregation.
The R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester simulated an LTE-Advanced network, which carried data on three downlink carriers to the device under test. As the only available test platform that combines RF and protocol tests for Category 9 devices, the R&S CMW500 supports full stack verification from RF up to the application layer.
The test has shown that QTI’s LTE-Advanced modem provides stability and support for the aggregation of three downlink component carriers, each with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and a 450 Mbps user plane data rate in the downlink. User equipment based on QTI’s LTE-Advanced modem will enable mobile operators worldwide who have acquired additional segmented spectrum to offer higher peak data rates to their subscribers in future applications. The test also showcased benefits across the entire supply chain and speeds up the commercial launch of LTE-Advanced 3x Carrier Aggregation functionality.
The R&S CMW500 is a good choice for test labs seeking maximum flexibility in T&M equipment. The wideband radio communication tester offers the performance necessary for advanced testing of the required 450 Mbps data rate up to the IP level for Category 9, as well as Category 10 in the future. It also supports three 20 MHz component carriers in the downlink, including 2x2 or 4x2 MIMO without any restriction when it comes to placing bands in the spectrum and the bandwidths used. Until now, scenarios for LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation were usually implemented with two component carriers, each with a bandwidth of up to 20 MHz and a total data rate of 300 Mbps in the downlink (Category 6). Devices operating to Category 9 performance standards make it possible to increase the downlink throughput by up to 150 Mbps.
