5G's advanced capabilities require a higher level of network performance expectations, from latency to the radio frequency environment. One aspect of where requirements are tightening up is in timing and synchronization.
In part, this is because the "goldilocks" midband spectrum that is prized for...
'The ultimate test, is does the user get a good experience?'
5G, Open RAN, millimeter-wave and midband spectrum—networks are evolving faster than ever. Operators must ensure that these rapidly-changing networks are working as expected and providing human users and connected devices with the level of...
Cloud, Open RAN and increased complexity means visibility is more important than ever
Telecom networks are facing a slew of simultaneous changes that are increasing complexity, from the deployment of 5G and the addition of new, higher frequency spectrum bands to the cloudification of the...
Impacts to the radio frequency environment isn't the first aspect that comes to mind amid the ongoing shift toward cloud-native, disaggregated networks. But that's not to say there aren't any, and according to Regis Lerbour, VP of product for network testing and RAN at...
Innovations in software and software disaggregation are driving telecom change on two levels, according to Per Kangru, technologist and business development expert in the CTO’s office at Viavi Solutions. Carriers can either do new things to drive automation or efficiencies within their own network;...
An accidental emergency alert sent to Florida residents' cell phones at 4:45 a.m. on Thursday prompted a public outcry, a contract cancellation by the state and an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission.
According to a tweet by the Florida Division of Emergency Management,...
Viavi Solutions reported preliminary results today that fell short of its guidance on revenue, and cited a drop-off in research and development spending by network equipment manufacturers and semiconductor companies as the driver.
Viavi said that its revenues for its fiscal third quarter are...
When you can continuously test network software, how does RF testing also need to change?
CI/CD is a tool of the IT world, of hyperscalers. Mobile network operators have worked for years to remake themselves in that image, to become software-centric in order to achieve...
An interview with Jim Neuens, Viavi Solutions' VP and GM of wireless field instruments, about the realities of 5G deployments, including spectrum issues, ongoing evolution at the cell site and workforce challenges that have to be addressed in order for mobile network operators to...
What is the changing paradigm for communications service providers in terms of software integration and deployment, particularly the concept of CI/CD? It comes down to three aspects.
More network software, deployed from core to edge and RAN. Kalyan Sundhar, vice president and general manager for...
Amid the pandemic-driven shift toward hybrid work, end-user experience is the top key performance indicator (KPI) for various IT projects, from delivery strategies and cloud monitoring objectives to budget considerations, according to Viavi Solutions' annual State of the Network report.
Seven out of 10...
With latency becoming an increasingly important part of enabling new services and monetizing 5G, just what does testing to assure low latency look like?
Rich McNally, senior director of mobile service strategy with Spirent Communications, discussed real-world observations and lessons on latency testing at...
An interview with Jim Neuens of Viavi Solutions, VP and GM of wireless field instruments, about the actual reality of 5G deployments, as well as issues that have to be addressed in order for mobile network operators to get the most out of these...
The process of deploying a private cellular network is different than enterprise Wi-Fi, but it's one that companies who wish to explore 4G or 5G private networks should be familiar with.
In a session at the recent Private Networks European Forum, that topic was tackled...
5G is a "strong, enduring growth driver," Spirent says
Spirent Communications saw strong performance and record orders during the first half of the year, driven by 5G and its targeting of new customers such as hyperscalers with assurance solutions.
CEO Eric Updyke said in a...
Keysight Technologies CFO Neil Dougherty told an investor conference this week that a hoped-for improvement in semiconductor supply chain issues in the second half of the year doesn't seem to be materializing—though at this point, he added, Keysight's combination of in-house specialty chip fab...
RootMetrics is only about halfway through the 125 U.S. cities that it tests every six months, but after 60 cities, it's releasing a look at what it's seeing so far in 5G test results. While the number of cities where each of the three...
The MDT solution taps user equipment (UE) to collect field measurements
Introduced in 3GPP Rel-10, Minimization of Drive Test (MDT) is a standardized mechanism designed to enable operators to use user devices in a network to collect mobile network data, and thus, reduce the need...
As network operators navigate a multi-pronged transformation that encompasses 5G, fiber proliferation, increasingly cloud-based and virtualized networks, one of the challenges that they face is that of radio frequency interference.
RF interference is not a new issue in wireless networks, and in fact, some of...
There has been a long-running debate in network testing that basically asks, which is better: Highly controlled and repeatable drive- and walk-testing with special test set-ups to get deep RF and chip-level data, which shows what a network is capable of with the latest...
Ookla, known for its Speedtest product, is adding to its portfolio of network data with the acquisition of drive- and walk-testing specialist RootMetrics.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed; RootMetrics has been part of IHS Markit.
“Ookla plus RootMetrics fully enables the...
EXFO's founder, majority shareholder and executive chairman calls Viavi's multiple offers for the company "noise on the line"
Germain Lamonde says he has fielded many offers to buy EXFO, the network test and measurement company that he founded, over the decades that it has been...
Verizon's network performance continues to be strong, but both AT&T and T-Mobile US are seeing a streak of performance improvements, according to the most recent round of testing from Rootmetrics.
In Rootmetrics' analysis, AT&T saw significant improvements at the national and state levels of...
