- Rohde & Schwarz has validated the performance of the Assisted GPS (AGPS) of a commercially available mobile device by simultaneous data transmission in the 5G millimeter frequency (mmW) band.
- This functionality can now be implemented with Rohde & Schwarz’s TS-LBS system for testing location-based services.
The deployment of cell phone networks using 5G NR radio access technology operating in the millimeter wave spectrum requires reliable emergency calls and perfect location of mobile devices.
5G NR in the sub 6 GHz frequency range (FR1) can be seen as a natural evolution of LTE to achieve higher bandwidth and more flexibility on the physical layer in order to realize all the new and additional use cases defined for a next-generation mobile network. The real technical challenge, however, comes with 5G mmWave (FR2), which opens up a new level of complexity in device development. mmWave frequencies imply measurement challenges that call for new testing approaches.
5G NR utilizes frequencies in the FR1 frequency range (<7.125GHz) and in the FR2 mmW frequency range (>24GHz). FR2 creates unique challenges for mobile devices in terms of power consumption and heat. With FR2 becoming more common in North American mobile devices, performance of critical services such as E911 emergency calls cannot be allowed to degrade when utilizing this mmW spectrum.
When used together in the TS-LBS test system, the R&S CMX500 radio communication tester and R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester provide a seamless and comprehensive test platform capable of testing LTE, 5G NR FR1 and FR2, while the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator simulates the GPS L1 & L5, GALILEO, GLONASS & BEIDOU satellite constellations for A-GNSS. Other positioning technologies that use barometric pressure sensors, WiFi and/or Bluetooth are also available in the same solution. Legacy technologies like GSM, WCDMA and LTE are all supported using the same hardware.
The addition of FR2 mmW to our TS-LBS test solution gives customers the latest capabilities needed to continue certifying their mobile devices to evolving 5G standards. Customers can add 5G to existing LTE TS-LBS systems with the addition of an R&S CMX500. FR2 support requires some hardware on the R&S CMX500 and an R&S CMQ500 mmW shield cube.
