Rohde & Schwarz, a leading provider of test and measurement solutions, has partnered with SmartViser, a provider of active test automation products, to develop a tailored solution for testing compliance with a new EU Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) label for smartphones and tablets.
The DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/1669, published in September 2023, mandates EEI labeling for smartphones and tablets sold in the European Union starting from June 20, 2025. Annex II of the regulation specifies the energy efficiency class and EEI requirements, while Annex IV outlines the measurement and calculation methods.
The energy efficiency index (or energy consumption label) indicates how much electricity and other relevant energy a device consumes. Appliances are labeled, for example, by the EU energy label (electrical appliances) and the "environmental badge" for motor vehicles. The rule is: the smaller the energy efficiency index, the more efficient the appliance.
SmartViser has been actively involved in creating solutions to help customers ensure that their products comply with this regulation. The company is currently offering the first pilot application, which features a repeatable and reliable test procedure and can be installed on smartphones and tablets to perform a series of user actions such as calling, browsing, and streaming.
SmartViser and Rohde & Schwarz have paired up and combined their solutions to address future test requirements. The R&S CMX500 wireless communication tester supports the latest wireless technologies, including LTE, 5G NR, and WLAN. Its energy efficiency test solution offers seamless power consumption measurements in parallel to RF measurements, protocol tests, or application tests.
Alexander Pabst, Vice President of Wireless Communications at Rohde & Schwarz emphasizes the importance of energy-saving initiatives within the wireless communication industry: “We are excited that the R&S CMX500 has been selected to be part of the SmartViser test solution. Energy efficiency is a key issue in wireless communications, and we are confident that this collaborative effort with SmartViser will make it easier for mobile device manufacturers to test their products for compliance with this new regulation.”
Gilles Ricordel, CEO of SmartViser says: “We are excited to announce our collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz. At SmartViser, strategic collaborations are pivotal to driving technological advancements. By combining our automation experience with industry-leading Rohde & Schwarz technology, we empower our customers to offer market-leading products that ensure the highest energy efficiency standards.”
Rohde & Schwarz and SmartViser showcased a live demo of their joint test solution for EEI labeling at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona. Click here to see everything RF's coverage of MWC 2024.
Click here for more information on SmartViser
