5G NR network measurements

5G network testing

5G NR network measurements

5G New Radio (NR) is the radio access technology for the next generation mobile communication standard. It differs from LTE in the following ways:

  • New frequency bands below and above 6 GHz, promising globally available frequency ranges, with the principle ones being 3.3 to 4.2 GHz and 26 to 44 GHz
  • Beamforming support for synchronization signals / broadcast and data channels, in combination with 5G NR multiple input multiple output (MIMO) for data channels
  • Wide flexibility of physical radio parameters, such as channel bandwidth, subcarrier spacing and symbol duration

These characteristics have an impact on signal propagation and quality, consequently increasing the need for accurate 5G NR network testing.

Your 5G network testing challenges

Testing 5G networks presents unique challenges that demand strategic solutions. Key challenges associated with 5G network testing include:

  • 5G network coverage: The initial rollout of this advanced technology is concentrated within closed coverage areas. Regulators now consider both reference signal received power (RSRP) and expected data throughput.
  • Achieving optimal 5G network performance: The high degree of flexibility in 5G necessitates thorough performance tuning during rollout to achieve intended performance. It is crucial to verify the handover area between sites, cells and beams to ensure the best possible network capacity.
  • Interference: Predominant use of time division duplex (TDD) mode in 5G networks introduces interference concerns. Strict network synchronization is necessary to prevent interference between base stations and between networks of different operators.

Our 5G network testing solutions

Navigating the complexities of 5G networks necessitates testing during all phases of the network life cycle. 5G NR network measurements allow operators to deploy and operate networks faster and provide superior network quality. Rohde & Schwarz offers a comprehensive 5G mobile network testing portfolio, with solutions for both passive and active tests:

  • The R&S®TSMx6 network scanner family and the R&S®5G Site Testing Solution (STS) support the passive testing method. With this method, it is possible to get an overview of all “always-on” DL signals in the area using automatic channel detection (ACD), which involves decoding broadcast channel information and RF parameters such as signal strength and quality. All base station signals (cells and beams) can also be analyzed. SIM cards are not needed for passive tests with network scanners.
  • The QualiPoc Android software supports active tests. This requires a network connection. The network performance can be measured in terms of application quality of experience (QoE) or quality of service (QoS), which includes data throughput and latency.

Rohde & Schwarz also offers software for data analytics and quality monitoring:

Products for network engineering

Your 5G network testing benefits

Rohde & Schwarz 5G network testing solutions offer many advantages for streamlined and effective network optimization.

Network scanners - R&S®TSMx6 family and R&S®5G STS:

  • Signal overview: quickly identify all signals on the air interface with automatic channel detection (ACD) and high-speed 5G NR measurements
  • Signal details: analyze 5G base station signals (cells and beams) at high sensitivities, ensuring the presence of a dominant signal at every location to prevent intercell interference caused by pilot pollution
  • Interference reduction: verify 5G TDD network synchronization during 5G drive testing to ensure optimum network capacity

Handheld mobile network testing solution - QualiPoc Android SW:

  • User-perceived quality measurement: measure network performance in terms of application quality of experience (QoE) or quality of service (QoS)
  • Interactivity Test: employ standard test methods (ITU-T G.1051) to measure round-trip latency with various traffic patterns

Analytics software - SmartAnalytics:

  • Aggregation and trending: get high-level aggregation of benchmarking campaigns for easy trend identification
  • Statistical analysis: analyze benchmarking campaigns based on the network performance score
  • Drill-down capability: troubleshoot issues by drilling down into single samples of a measurement campaign

Webinars

Webinar: URLLC - how reliable are private 5G networks today?

Get insights into the performance and reliability of today’s 5G private networks.

Register now

 5G over-the-air measurements with the R&S Spectrum Rider FPH handheld microwave spectrum analyzer

5G over-the-air measurements with the R&S®Spectrum Rider FPH handheld microwave spectrum analyzer

The R&S®Spectrum Rider FPH handheld spectrum analyzer’s frequency coverage up to 44 GHz combined with features such as 6 hour battery life, low weight (2.5 kg), backlit keypad, fast boot time, non-reflective display and ruggedized housing make it optimized for field spectral measurements of 5G signals. The R&S®FPH combined with an appropriate antenna can make over-the-air 5G measurements including occupied bandwidth, spectral emission mask and channel power, thus making it capable of verifying 5G transmissions. With frequency coverage to 44 GHz, the R&S®FPH’s can also be used for spectrum clearance and interference hunting in new 5G bands.

Videos

5G RedCap – Network Testing

Video: 5G RedCap – Network Testing

Explore how 5G is transforming industries with reduced capability (RedCap), a feature introduced in 3GPP Release 17. RedCap allows IoT devices to optimize network resources, balancing features, market readiness and cost.

More information

Featured content for 5G network testing

White paper: Network Performance Score (NPS)

Learn how the NPS integrates voice and data KPIs to calculate an overall network score.

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Stories & insights

Interactivity test: Distance to server impact on latency and jitter (part 1)

URLLC enables very low latency over radio links and is an important aspect of 5G.

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Testing O-RAN

Testing O-RAN

O-RAN demands suitable test and measurement solutions - in the lab and in the field.

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