- Keysight Technologies announced that it has received approval from the Global Certification Forum (GCF) for test cases to validate the radio frequency (RF) performance of 5G NR (new radio) communication devices in standalone (SA) mode in the FR2 frequency bands in the millimeter-wave range.
GCF approval of these test cases means modem and device vendors can use Keysight’s 5G Device Test Platform to speed verification of RF in both non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) mode across FR1 and FR2 (mmWave) 3GPP-specified bands.
This achievement indicates that the wireless industry is evolving beyond the use of NSA mode, which relies on a 4G LTE evolved packet core (EPC). Nearly eighty mobile operators are now investing in 5G SA deployments, using a 5G Core (5GC) to deliver advanced connectivity services.
More than eleven percent of all commercially available 5G devices now support both sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrum according to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). 5G NR deployment in SA mode and in FR2 is expected to support applications such as fixed wireless access (FWA), which uses customer premises equipment (CPE) to deliver wired-broadband data speeds to homes and businesses.
Keysight’s 5G network emulation solutions for FR2 leverage the company’s UXM 5G Wireless Test Platform and 5G over-the-air (OTA) compact antenna test (CATR) range chambers to access a variety of 5G NR test cases.
