“The dynamics of testing have changed”: Interview with Keysight’s Sudhir Tangri

Keysight Technologies has played a critical role in shaping India’s evolving testing and measurement (T&M) landscape. It has enabled innovators to push boundaries, with an end-to-end wireless portfolio that supports advanced use cases, reduces risk, and improves the time to market. In an interview with tele.net, Sudhir Tangri, country general manager, Keysight Technologies India, talked about the company’s role in the T&M domain, its key products and solutions, as well as its growth plans and strategies…

How has the network T&M landscape evolved over the past few years? What role is Keysight Technologies playing in this?

The availability of talented resources and the proliferation of digital technologies in all operating spaces in India has given an immense thrust to the development and deployment of network technologies including wireline, Wi-Fi and 5G. Considering the scale and service coverage of these networks, the dynamics of testing have changed substantially. These technologies are extremely software-centric, with new features and service upgrades being done through software. Moreover, hardware development is upgradable and scalable to meet customer density and demand. Therefore, the network industry has shifted to what is known as a philosophy of continuous integration, deployment and testing. Testing is no longer a one-time phenomenon; it is a process wherein new features are tested whenever they become available.

Keysight makes test tools for functional, performance, scale and compliance testing in networking technologies, as well as for the deployment and optimisation of networks.

What are Keysight’s key focus areas in the Indian telecom market? Are there any new products in the pipeline?

Keysight’s test portfolio spans several market segments including 5G, 6G, semiconductor and high speed digital tests, wireline, core network testing, automotive, energy, aerospace and defence. Keysight also has unique offerings in electronic design and automation software testing. All these segments remain a key focus in India as we endeavour to help our customers simulate, test and validate their designs.

When it comes to the Indian telecom market, both research and development (R&D) and deployment are dominated by 5G. Keysight has several products available that address the current and upcoming testing needs of customers in the country. These include base station emulators, user equipment emulators, open radio access network (O-RAN) testers, RAN intelligent controller testers, LoadCore, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) testers, conformance test systems as well as security and visibility solutions.

Keysight’s products are continuously upgraded to meet evolving demands, with new products in the pipeline to further accelerate testing. A few key products in the Indian market include:

• Multiport RF transceivers: This is a multiport radio frequency (RF) test platform for fast and accurate MIMO and massive MIMO (mMIMO) RF beamforming measurement and analysis. It is a phase and time coherent multi-channel RF measurement and supports simultaneous multi-radio RF measurement.
• Beam MIMO Detect (BMD): BMD provides customers with a tool for powerful and extensive multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) configuration testing. It provides integrated dynamic phase shifting on all links to support mMIMO requirements for current and future mobile communications industry standards.
• Nemo Drive Test Solution: Nemo wireless network solutions provide drive testing and analytic solutions for all stages of the wireless network life cycle, from roll-out to optimisation and monitoring, both outdoors and indoors. The solution supports all leading chipset providers and can perform testing of numerous day-to-day applications.
• Wi-Fi 7 testing: The Keysight E7515W UXM wireless connectivity test solution supports next-generation Wi-Fi 7. The platform facilitates advanced Wi-Fi®/cellular coexistence testing as well as unique testing of fixed wireless access devices. E7515W can perform extensive RF parameterised testing and IEEE conformance testing with full-rate throughput. This solution introduces a unique rate versus range test, enhanced receiver sensitivity, and a powerful Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 device under testing. Keysight’s Eggplant automation software uses machine learning (ML) and automation intelligence with a synthetic human, achieving fully robotic and repeatable test automation of new Wi-Fi and 5G XR devices.

“Testing is no longer a one-time phenomenon; it is a process wherein new features are tested whenever they become available.”

What opportunities has 5G opened for the company? How are you tapping these?

Keysight has been operating in India for over 35 years and has always maintained a key focus on catering to test needs across all its operating segments. Hence, the company is deeply entrenched with both multinational corporations (MNCs) and domestic customers. 5G has provided a new impetus to the test market, with the latest design and test workflows being carried out in India by MNCs, domestic companies, government agencies, academia and start-ups. The current industry requirements are consistent with Keysight’s unique product and solution offerings. It has established R&D, sales and support organisations in India, with domain expertise to tap and harness these opportunities. This solidifies our leadership in 5G testing, both in India and globally.

What are the challenges presented by open RAN and AI/ML integration in the network? How does Keysight address these?

As 5G technology advances to a new level with the implementation of Releases 17 and 18, the industry is witnessing larger adoption and proliferation of O-RAN and artificial intelligence (AI)/ML integration. Keysight is fully ready with its O-RAN solutions, which have already enabled the establishment of several open testing and integration centres across the world.

Keysight customers can test open radio units, open distributed units and open centralised units as per RF and system capabilities outlined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and O-RAN alliance. O-RAN is continuously upgraded for M-MIMO and MU-MIMO at FR1 and FR2 frequencies, with the company providing both conducted and over-the-air (OTA) test mechanisms to support these advanced-level testing requirements.

Keysight has several products for O-RAN and RAN intelligent controller (RIC) testing. It recently upgraded its RIC tester with the following capabilities:

• RIC tester and RIC simulation: RIC test emulates O-RAN network nodes and traffic profiles across various RIC interfaces, allowing testing of both near-real-time RIC (and the xApps it hosts) and non-real-time RIC (and rApps it hosts). It allows testing AI/ML processing for xApps and rApps through the delivery of modelled measurements. Keysight has also worked with several customers to enable the testing of systems designed and developed with AI/ML.
• 6G AI neural receiver designs: A neural receiver provided by NVIDIA undergoes validation in an O-RAN testbed using data generated from Keysight PathWave SystemVue.
• AI/ML and sensing in 6G: Keysight has showcased how its electronic design automation software can be utilised in technology research. This demo integrates AI/ML signal processing models and verifies the performance of the algorithms with a real hardware connection in an OTA system.

“5G has provided a new impetus to the test market, with the latest design and test workflows being carried out in India by MNCs, domestic companies, government agencies, academia and start-ups.”

What are your growth plans and strategies for the next two to three years?

The Indian economy is poised for growth, driven by both geopolitical inflection and the government’s policies aimed at fostering electronic design and manufacturing. Keysight is aligned with these macros and will continue to invest in the Indian market. The company is focused on providing solutions to customers across a broad spectrum of applications such as the wireless space (5G, O-RAN and NTN), wireline (data centre and AI/ML applications), automotive (battery test and end-of-line testing), and aerospace and defence (electromagnetic spectrum operations, radar and satellite-based applications).

“5G has provided a new impetus to the test market, with the latest design and test workflows being carried out in India by MNCs, domestic companies, government agencies, academia and start-ups.”