Rohde & Schwarz has successfully verified the non-terrestrial network (NTN) narrowband-internet of things (NB-IoT) test cases of work item 333 using its R&S CMW500 radio communication tester, allowing the Global Certification Forum (GCF) to activate the work item in their device certification programme at the Conformance Agreement Group meeting. Manufacturers of IoT chipsets, modems and end devices, as well as test houses, can now rely on the proven Rohde & Schwarz solution to bring next-generation IoT devices based on NTN to the market, enabling ubiquitous connectivity on land, at sea and in the air. With the successful verification of the 3GPP Rel. 17 NTN NB-IoT test cases of work item 333 using the R&S CMW500, the GCF was able to activate the work item, kicking off conformance testing for NTN NB-IoT devices.
With this accomplishment, Rohde & Schwarz, together with Tier I chipset vendors such as Qualcomm Technologies, MediaTek and Sony Semiconductor Israel’s Altair, have contributed significantly to the adoption of non-terrestrial NB-IoT use cases spanning multiple sectors such as smartphones, consumer, automotive, agriculture, maritime, logistics and mining. The NTN NB-IoT protocol test cases of work item 333 cover NTN-specific signalling aspects for NB-IoT devices as specified in 3GPPRel. 17 TS 36.523-1.
Rohde & Schwarz has equipped its market-leading NB-IoT solution with 3GPP Rel. 17 NTN features to provide the ecosystem with R&D, production and conformance testing functions. The protocol conformance test cases were developed using the R&S CMW500 radio communication tester, which allows engineers to assess their NTN NB-IoT devices under realistic conditions, establishing a real-time, comprehensive connection with the simulated satellite network and testing the relevant signalling and RF scenarios in line with the 3GPP Rel. 17 specification. The test solution emulates geosynchronous and geostationary orbits as well as low earth orbit constellations. It helps engineers verify NTN device challenges such as time and frequency synchronisation due to prolonged delays, the Doppler effect, a low signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, power saving mechanisms, satellite ephemerides and global navigation satellite system acquisition.
The official GCF platform R&S CMW-IoT is a single box solution for conformance testing across personal communication telephones, radio resource management and RF. In addition to this, the single box also supports carrier acceptance testing.
