Anite, a global leader in wireless equipment testing technology, announced that it has further demonstrated its protocol test case leadership with the first LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) carrier aggregation (CA) test case verification submissions to RAN5. These submissions were based on initial verifications originally submitted by Anite to RAN5 in April of 2013. This key achievement is a stepping stone toward validation, leading to the inclusion of these test cases in both GCF and PTCRB device certification requirements. The test cases were developed using Anite’s Conformance Toolset and in collaboration with major North American and Asian chipset and device manufacturers.
Carrier Aggregation, a key feature in LTE-A, allows mobile operators to achieve higher spectrum efficiency and faster data rates through the aggregation of narrower spectrum bandwidths instead of large contiguous blocks of spectrum, which is scarce and not easily obtainable. LTE-A will extend the features of LTE to deliver the equivalent of a high speed, fixed-line broadband experience to mobile device users.
As a result of Anite driving the development of LTE-A CA testing capability, device and chipset manufacturers will be able to accelerate the development of LTE-A products ahead of formal GCF and PTCRB certification, expected to commence in the second half of 2013. Since 1997 Anite has consistently pioneered RAN5 conformance test case submissions. Its protocol testing expertise and experience has enabled it to achieve a leadership position, which it seeks to maintain as new technologies, such as LTE-A, are introduced. To date, Anite has been responsible for around two thirds of all LTE protocol test case verification submissions to RAN5.
The development and submission of these first LTE-A CA test cases further highlights the advanced capability of the Anite 9000, Anite’s network simulator platform for lab-based device testing, which is used by the industry to execute development, conformance, interoperability and performance testing. The same platform was used to achieve industry-leading peak data rates for LTE-A CA, which Anite was first to announce in February this year.
“The submission of these latest test cases to RAN5 demonstrates the strength of our collaborative relationships with the leading chipset and device manufacturers in addition to clear product maturity. These factors are essential as we continue to pioneer the development of new testing capability for cutting-edge technologies such as LTE-A and beyond”, says Paul Beaver, Products Director at Anite. He continues, “Anite’s customers can be confident that they are partnered with the industry experts, supporting their critical testing requirements.”