- Gemalto, a Thales company, uses test systems from Rohde & Schwarz to ensure that Cinterion IoT modules operate synchronously across all networks and under all conditions.
- This test solution in a virtual environment aims to reduce the number of field tests to be performed in different countries for manufacturers of IoT solutions (Cat-M and NB-IoT).
The characteristics of the IoT protocol stack have been specified by 3GPP, but IoT equipment must interact with different network configurations worldwide. It is therefore necessary to verify that these characteristics work correctly in the various configurations of the different network operators.
Thanks to the cooperation between Thales and Rohde & Schwarz, manufacturers of IoT solutions can implement virtual test drives during the development phase of CAT-M1 and NB-IoT modules to identify and solve problems at an earlier stage. This also helps to ensure cellular coverage and reliable connectivity before continuing the integration process and conducting additional field tests: analysis of network configurations in different countries and RF power levels, verification of signaling in demanding RF environments.
The test solution implemented consists of the R&S Field-to-Lab system for wireless communication testing, the R&S CMWcards network emulator and the R&S CMW500/CMW290 wideband radio communication tester. The LTE-based R&S Field-to-Lab system now supports LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies. From the same user interface, it is possible to switch from LTE to IoT testing. The process of loading field logss, extracting the required information from these logs and generating the test script makes it possible to reproduce the real network environment in a laboratory.
R&S Field-to-Lab supports the IoT functions specified by 3GPP. This virtual driver test solution for IoT applications provides replication of RF and signaling conditions from the graphical user interface of the CMW500 and CMW290 mobile radio testers.
