Viavi Solutions has launched the TM500 cloud for testing cloud-deployed open radio access network (RAN) components. As operators increasingly deploy core network services in the cloud through hyper-scalers and other cloud providers, the TM500 cloud is designed to measure and mitigate potential risks associated with the quality of service (QoS) for end users.
The solution is applicable to typical open RAN cloud deployment models, wherein the open distributed unit, open centralised unit and the core are all deployed in the cloud. The TM500 cloud allows network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and operators to overcome risks associated with this new deployment model, ensuring delivery of key performance indicators (KPIs) and QoS for end users, similar to what they would experience with traditional gNodeB and core network architectures.
The TM500 cloud can be used in various deployment scenarios including private or public cloud. Additionally, it is suitable for architectures where the 5G user plane function is deployed close to the edge of the cloud RAN to meet strict latency requirements, making it suitable for measuring performance in such architectures. The solution evaluates critical KPIs such as throughput, latency and round-trip time, ensuring the best individual performance for each user without any compromise, even as more user accounts are added to the network. It also guarantees that quality measures for applications such as voice remain uncompromised.
Given that the TM500 is already the de facto test instrument standard for most NEMs, the TM500 cloud is expected to serve as a natural extension for them, particularly as several NEMs are exploring the deployment of open RAN network components in the cloud. Also, as operators increasingly collaborate with cloud providers, this solution provides assurance that the scale and cost advantages they attain through cloud deployment of network elements will not pose the risk of a negative experience for their users.
