Rohde & Schwarz first to achieve TPAC for NTN NB-IoT RF and RRM conformance test cases

{"title":"Rohde and Schwarz achieves first full NTN NB-IoT certification approval from GCF","content":"

Rohde & Schwarz has become the first and only test equipment provider to receive Global Certification Forum approval for both RF and RRM non-terrestrial network NB-IoT conformance testing.

At the recent Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) meeting #78 of the Global Certification Forum (GCF), Rohde & Schwarz verified NTN NB-IoT test cases for radio frequency (RF) and radio resource management (RRM), successfully meeting all test platform approval criteria (TPAC). The R&S TS-RRM and R&S TS8980 test platforms were approved for every type of NTN NB-IoT test (RF, Demod and RRM), making Rohde & Schwarz the only company to have activated both NTN NB-IoT radio frequency (RF) and radio resource management (RRM) work items (WI) in the GCF.

Caption: The R&S TS8980 meets test platform approval criteria (TPAC) by GCF for NTN NB-IoT RF and RRM conformance test cases.

Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) are wireless communication systems that operate above the Earth's surface, using satellites and high-altitude platforms to deliver connectivity where traditional infrastructure cannot reach. They are essential to realizing ubiquitous connectivity, bringing coverage even to remote areas that do not have access to traditional terrestrial networks. For industries like maritime shipping, agricultural monitoring, and emergency response, NTN represents the difference between being connected and operating entirely in the dark.

Rohde & Schwarz continued its success in verifying NTN narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) test cases at the recent Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) meeting #78, satisfying all test platform approval criteria (TPAC) with the R&S TS-RRM and R&S TS8980 conformance test systems. This achievement allowed the Global Certification Forum (GCF) to activate work item (WI) 336 in its device certification program. It also means that Rohde & Schwarz now supports the complete certification of Release 17 NB-IoT user equipment (UE) for NTNs.

The activation of WI 336 matters because it establishes a formal certification pathway for devices that need to communicate through satellites. Without validated test cases, manufacturers had no standardized way to prove their devices met the necessary performance benchmarks for NTN operation. That gap is now closed. Device makers can move forward with certification, knowing the testing methodology has been vetted and approved by the GCF.

The R&S TS-RRM and R&S TS8980 are conformance test systems designed to facilitate NB-IoT certification across LTE and other radio access technologies (RAT). The R&S TS RRM is a fully automated conformance test system for running RRM conformance test cases and runs 5G NR and LTE inter-RAT RRM test cases for certifying wireless devices. The R&S TS8980 is the most compact full-range conformance testing solution on the market. It supports the entire device certification process for RF and RRM.

Both platforms cover a wide range of testing scenarios that device manufacturers need to validate before bringing NTN-capable products to market. RF testing ensures that devices transmit and receive signals within specified parameters, while RRM testing verifies that devices can manage radio resources effectively, which is particularly important when communicating with satellites moving across the sky. Demod testing confirms that devices can correctly decode incoming signals under various conditions.

NTN technology has gained significant momentum since 3GPP included satellite-based communication in its Release 17 specifications. The standardization effort opened the door for NB-IoT devices to connect via low Earth orbit satellites, extending IoT coverage to regions where building cell towers is impractical or uneconomical. According to analysis from GSMA Intelligence, satellite-based IoT connections are projected to grow substantially over the next several years as hardware costs decrease and constellation deployments expand.

For more information on NTN solutions from Rohde & Schwarz, visit: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/_256719.html

www.rohde-schwarz.com

Rohde & Schwarz

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company's leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 2.78 billion in the 2022/2023 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2023, Rohde & Schwarz had around 13,800 employees worldwide.

R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

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Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc.
6821 Benjamin Franklin Dr, Columbia, MD 21046, USA
Loberg Dominique
Phone : +1-503-523-7951
[email protected]

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