The R&S TS8950G and R&S TS8980S RF test systems from Rohde & Schwarz now allow conformance and precompliance testing for VAMOS. Using VAMOS, network operators can double the channel capacity of GSM base stations. To ensure that the introduction of VAMOS runs smoothly, the 3GPP standardization committee will adopt new standardized test cases in the second quarter of 2011. But manufacturers need to be able to check the VAMOS functionality of their user equipment (UE) and chipsets today. Rohde & Schwarz is the first company to offer practical VAMOS test scenarios. An upgrade will be available for the official test cases as soon as they are adopted.

Due to the ever increasing number of mobile device users, existing GSM networks will reach the limits of their capacity in the next few years. VAMOS, which stands for voice services over adaptive multi-user channels on one slot, is an extension of GSM that has been specified in the 3GPP standard. VAMOS doubles the voice channels of a GSM base station by using a second, software-implemented channel and the existing channel simultaneously: If the first channel is occupied, then the second channel (orthogonal subchannel) will transmit the conversation.

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Rohde & Schwarz

Development of VAMOS-capable products is already in full swing, which means that manufacturers, network operators and test houses need test solutions that allow them to perform acceptance testing. The R&S TS8950G and R&S TS8980S are the first test systems on the market that can be extended to cover VAMOS testing. The R&S TS8950G is the market leader in the certification of UE and chipsets. The new R&S TS8980S was designed especially for precompliance testing. The two systems are built around the R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester, which generates VAMOS signals.

The test systems come with multiple predefined test scenarios that users can customize to their specific requirements. These Rohde & Schwarz test systems will also include the official test cases as soon as they are adopted by 3GPP in the second quarter of 2011.