The O-RAN Alliance has approved four testbeds, three of which are operated by the Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR), as new Open Testing and Integration Centres (OTICs) in North America.
The PAWR locations include the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things at Northeastern University, which is home to the massive, software-defined Colosseum testbed; the POWDER testbed in Salt Lake City; the ARA testbed in central Iowa, focused on research for connectivity in rural areas. The fourth new OTIC is located in the Washington, D.C./Arlington, Virginia area and is a partnership between Virginia Tech, AT&T, Dish Network and Verizon. That Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) xG Testbed at Virginia Tech focuses on interoperability, programmabilty and security.
“The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative is committed to securing the next generation of wireless network technologies,” said Aloizio DaSilva, who is CCI xG Testbed director for the North American OTIC. “By conducting interoperability, conformance and performance tests as an OTIC site, we will identify and address key gaps, spurring innovation and early adoption in the wireless marketplace.”
“The O-RAN ALLIANCE welcomes four additional OTICs to North America, bringing the worldwide total to 15,” said Alex Jinsung Choi, chairman of the O-RAN Alliance board. “The essential function of OTICs to certify and badge products complements the work of our operator members and contributing vendors to continuously develop products and operationalize O-RAN specifications.”
In other test news:
-The overall automated test equipment market is expected to grow at a rate of 5% each year through 2027, according to analysis by TechNavio, with the increase in smartphone shipments cited as a main driver for the increase, as well as automotive wireless technology testing. However, increases in raw material costs is squeezing test equipment manufacturers and leading to higher prices, the firm concluded, and “the need for continuous product development with a high brand image, additional features and technologies, and after-sales service, has become essential for [T&M] businesses.”
–Rohde & Schwarz is sponsoring drone development work by students at the Technical University of Munich. The company is providing its R&S MXO 4 oscilloscopes for control electronics testing, plus accessories and training.
-Speaking of drones, MITRE has opened up a new test range in Orange, Virginia, focused on small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The facility serves as a proving ground for MITRE’s technologists and U.S. government sponsors, the company said, noting that both the Army and Navy are implementing MITRE’s smartphone app-controlled counter-drone solution, CARPE Dronvm, which provides drone operators with the ability to “swiftly report and thwart aerial threats”, according to MITRE. MITRE Engenuity, a subsidiary of the organization, has also looked into the use of 5G cellular systems for UAS, particularly in beyond-line-of-sight scenarios.
-The city of Orlando, Florida is starting a six-month test of an autonomous Shuttle from local autonomous mobility company Beep. The Shuttling With Autonomous Navigation (SWAN) pilot project will operate seven days a week starting on Saturday, August 20. The Beep vehicles will operate on a roughly one-mile route with five stops, connecting LYNX Central Station and SunRail to UCF/Valencia downtown, Luminary Green Park, Electronic Arts (EA) and Parramore and Creative Village residents and businesses. Beep’s shuttles will operate in an existing, dedicated bus lane and will operate from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., as well as in the evening from 6:30-10:30 p.m.
