Editor’s Note: The ability to test network and device features and functions is an important piece of technology development and deployment. RCR Wireless News looks weekly at the test and measurement space to see what’s afoot.
—As the industry inches closer to voice over LTE deployment, Spirent Communications said its VoLTE Launch Readiness solution is now available to help operators assess how good the user experience is with VoLTE services in live networks across voice, video and battery life via any mobile device.
“The number one question we’re hearing from operators and device manufacturers right now is: ‘Are my new VoLTE devices and services ready to launch?” said Des Owens, who is general manager for service experience at Spirent.
Owens said the new offering allows operators and device manufacturers to both evaluate the user experience on VoLTE and to compare it to legacy and OTT services.
“The goal for VoLTE is to improve key aspects of the experience, like reliability, speech quality and video quality, without negatively impacting the battery life of the device,” Owens said. “We collaborated with Signals Research Group on their recent VoLTE user experience study in a live U.S. network, which showed that VoLTE has the potential to outperform both legacy circuit-switched and OTT voice services in real-world implementations.”
Spirent said that the measurement and analysis methodology for VoLTE Launch Readiness was refined through working with “multiple tier 1 operators” who are rolling out both voice and video calling over LTE.
—Ascom Network Testing has launched a new tool for managing customer experience. Its Tems MobileInsight solution, which will be available for demos at Super Mobility Week, relies on crowdsourced data collection from subscriber handsets. The aggregated data can be used for real-time VIP monitoring or corporate quality of service assurance, Ascom said, as well as general network optimization and identifying dropped call and congestion hotspots.
“By collecting data from opt-in subscribers’ mobile phones in the form of key performance indicators (KPIs) and direct subscriber feedback, the operator can assess and analyze their customers’ experience and make network adjustments as needed to ensure their satisfaction,” said James Morrison, VP of benchmarking and monitoring for Ascom Network Testing.
Ascom said a North American operator has already purchased the new solution for its expanding LTE network.
—Keysight Technologies introduced new instruments for testing advanced materials, such as those used in semiconductors, which require very sensitive electronic measurement capabilities for new applications. The company will also be demonstrating its test instruments for antennas, mobile devices and radar systems at the European Microwave Week in Rome in early October.
—In other wireless testing news, JDSU now has integrated RF over CPRI testing available in its CellAdvisor base station analyzer. Read more details here.
