Anritsu Corporation?s ME7873L RF Conformance Test System has become the world?s first GCF-approved mobile test system to achieve more than 80 per cent of test cases supporting the LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation(*1).

The LTE-Advanced standard is the latest 4G high-speed mobile standard now being deployed by global network operators, following the 2013 start of the first launch in Korea. Test systems must obtain GCF(*2) approval for at least 80 per cent of test cases as a condition for terminal certification by GCF.

The company?s ME7873L RF Conformance Test System achieved first GCF Carrier Aggregation approval in October 2013 followed by additional certification for new test cases by CAG(*3)in January 2014. As a result, it is the world?s first test system supporting RF/RRM conformance tests(*4) in Band1?5 and Band3?8 with 80% of GCF test cases.

Global network operators are deploying LTE-Advanced from 2014 onwards, creating an increasing future need for conformance test systems. Anritsu will continue to focus its efforts on obtaining GCF/PTCRB(*5) certifications to help bring next-generation mobile broadband systems to market as soon as possible.

ME7873L RF Conformance Test System

This is a test platform supporting LTE terminal compliance with 3GPP standards for RF Tx and Rx characteristics, performance, etc. It supports the LTE/LTE-Advanced technologies and is used widely for mobile carrier acceptance tests in North America and Japan.

*1?Carrier Aggregation

Virtualization technology for increasing bandwidth (range of radio frequencies) by combining multiple frequency bands.  Wireless communications systems can transfer more data at faster speeds as the bandwidth gets larger. For example, a carrier with both 20-MHz and 10-MHz bands can use this carrier aggregation technology to achieve a data rate equivalent to a 30-MHz wide contiguous frequency band, thereby increasing both the maximum and average communications speeds.

*2 GCF: Global Certification Forum

Organization for deciding network operation standards and mobile compliance test standards to assure global interoperability between mobile phones. GCF-approved measurement systems and measurement items guarantee that the test performance (measurement procedure and accuracy) complies with required mobile verification tests.

*3 CAG: Conformance and Interoperability Agreement Group

Business group affiliated with GCF to determine mobile phone and network compatibility test specifications and verification procedures. Meets quarterly to decide latest certifications.

*4?RF/RRM Conformance Test

The RF conformance test is used to check that mobile TRx characteristics, performance, etc., comply with the 3GPP standards. The RRM conformance test is related to control of resources (wireless circuits, etc.) between the base station and mobile.

*5?PTCRB: PCS Type Certification Review Board

Organization for deciding network operation standards and mobile compliance test standards to assure global interoperability between mobile phones, targeting frequency bands used in North America. PTCRB-approved measurement systems and measurement items guarantee that the test performance (measurement procedure and accuracy) complies with required mobile verification test conditions.