Munich 19-Apr-2024

Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI support European OTIC in Berlin for O-RAN conformance certification

The European Open Testing and Integration Centre (OTIC) in Berlin, located at the Deutsche Telekom innovation campus facilitated by i14y Lab, provides high-quality and comprehensive testing for O-RAN-based products and solutions as well as validation and integration services to a supply chain of open radio access network vendors. In their first successful certification of an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU) according to O-RAN ALLIANCE (O-RAN) as part of the O-RAN Certification and Badging Program, i14y Lab has relied on the integrated solution for O-RU conformance testing by Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI.

Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI Solutions, Inc. have supported the European OTIC in Berlin in the process of awarding O-RAN conformance certification for international markets. The certification of an indoor O-RU of the LPRU-series from VVDN Technologies was completed according to O-RAN specified processes and procedures as defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE. This marks the first certification accomplished by a European test lab.

The i14y Lab is an open lab for interoperability testing of disaggregated telco systems, such as open RAN, led by Deutsche Telekom together with consortium partners. The test and measurement expert Rohde & Schwarz is one of the consortium members and offers an integrated solution for conformance testing of O-RAN Radio Units together with VIAVI Solutions. Both companies are active in specifications development in the O-RAN ALLIANCE and have combined their industry-leading capabilities: The solution consists of the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester and the R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator (VSG), R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyzer and Vector Signal Explorer (R&S VSE) software from VIAVI TM500, with the O-RU Test Manager from VIAVI as single point of control, providing a seamless user experience.

All approved Open Testing and Integration Centers (OTIC) worldwide cooperate with the O-RAN ALLIANCE in the O-RAN Certification and Badging Program, which represents a comprehensive mechanism to ensure confidence in O-RAN solutions within the industry. O-RAN is making radio access networks more open, disaggregated and flexible. Opening the network architecture can foster innovation, accommodate individual needs and enhance network efficiency. Therefore, O-RAN is experiencing rapid advancement and growth in the technology ecosystem.

VVDN Technologies has developed the LPRU-series 5G NR Radio Units (O-RU) to be fully compliant to O-RAN ALLIANCE standards. The VVDN 4T/4R Split 7.2 radios are covering 5G NR TDD bands n77, N78 and n79. They are compact, lightweight, easy to install, and provide optimal coverage for indoor applications. The design has completed the extensive 3GPP and O-RAN compliance testing.

The O-RU verification followed the O-RAN fronthaul conformance test specification defined by O-RAN WG4, including the Control, User, and Synchronization plane (CUS-Plane) and the Management-plane (M-Plane). WG4’s objective is to deliver open fronthaul interfaces, in which interoperability between Distributed Unit (DU) and Radio Unit (RU) from multiple vendors can be realized.

For general information on O-RAN testing solutions from Rohde & Schwarz, visit: http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/wireless/O-RAN

Press & media contact

Rohde & Schwarz

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For over 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company's leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 2.93 billion in the 2023/2024 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2024, Rohde & Schwarz had more than 14,400 employees worldwide.

R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

VIAVI Solutions

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.

i14y Lab

The i14y Lab is an open lab for interoperability testing of disaggregated telco systems, such as Open RAN, led by Deutsche Telekom together with consortium project partners, and supported with public funding from the German Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV). For more information on the i14y Lab, visit www.i14y-lab.com.

VVDN Technologies

VVDN is a Product Engineering and Manufacturing company focused on designing & manufacturing end-to-end products across several technology vertical markets (5G, data center, Networking, and Wi-Fi, Vision, Automotive, IoT, Cloud & Apps). VVDN’s India HQ is located at Gurgaon, India, and its North America HQ is located in Fremont, CA, USA. VVDN serves global customers across several regions including US, Canada, Europe, India, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. VVDN has 11 advanced Product Engineering Centres in India, which are fully equipped to design & test the complete hardware & software required to develop a complete product or solution. VVDN’s 7 Manufacturing facilities are located at Manesar, Gurgaon, and Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India, which includes in-house best-in-class SMT Factory, Molding & Tooling Factory, Die Casting, Antenna Assembly, Product Assembly Factory, and Product Certifications labs. VVDN’s Engineering & Manufacturing facilities are fully compiled to develop & manufacture Enterprise, Consumer, Industrial, and Automotive-grade products.