Anritsu has decided to expand its Universal Wireless Test Set MT8870A software to support the new 3GPP 5G Sub-6 GHz New Radio (NR) RF measurement standards. The enhanced 5G Sub-6 GHz NR Uplink Tx Measurement and Downlink Waveform File software options will support non-signaling based 5G Sub-6 GHz TRx tests.
In response to the 3GPP Release 15 announced in December 2017 which defines the 5G NR standards, telecommunications operators are targeting early 2019 for a rollout of commercial 5G services with many announcing an accelerated timetable for practical trials. Although the 3GPP 5G NR standard defines the use of frequency bands up to 52.6 GHz, early deployments will be focused on the Sub-6 GHz spectrum, which has the advantage of offering services with frequencies close to 4G LTE, such as mobility and wide area coverage, where 5G is expected to play a key role until approximately 2020. Support for this Sub-6 GHz standard is expected to be the first step for vendors of 5G devices.
The Universal Wireless Test Set MT8870A is a measurement platform for mass production of various wireless communications equipment and modules. The main unit accommodates four high-performance test units, each operating completely independently to perform measurements of up to four pieces of wireless equipment or modules in parallel. With a seamless frequency band of up to 6 GHz and a bandwidth of 160 MHz as standard features, the advanced MT8870A platform does not require hardware upgrades to support the 3GPP 5G Sub-6 GHz defined test conditions, enabling users to expand functions for 5G Sub-6 GHz NR while minimizing upgrade cost risks.
The powerful platform also supports continuous line testing of next-generation mobile devices incorporating 4G + 5G + 11ax + Bluetooth 5 technologies to help cut production-line testing costs.
