Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with LG Electronics Mobile Comm. U.S.A. Inc., have successfully verified Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) 3.0 features related to GEO-Fencing using an LG G8 ThinQ mobile smartphone. The new Enhanced Targeting Rules imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S., requires wireless providers to reach 100 percent of the targeted geographic area specified by government issuers, with no more than a 0.1-mile overshoot.

Wireless Emergency Alerts are a critical part of the nation’s emergency readiness system for warning the public about dangerous weather, missing children and other types of emergencies. Geographic targeting is a necessary mobile device feature as alerting citizens not affected by a specific emergency could cause unnecessary panic and safety risks.

The Rohde & Schwarz solution consists of the R&S CMW500 radio communication tester and the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. The solution verifies mobile device signaling according to WEA 3.0 GEO-Fencing specifications. This same solution can also cover 3GPP conformance and network operator test plans for LTE, WLAN, WCDMA and GSM location based services.

Bryan Helmick, product manager for mobile radio testers at Rohde & Schwarz USA Inc., explains, “Test systems that can verify device compliance are critical to the successful roll-out of the FCC’s enhanced targeting requirements. This effort between Rohde & Schwarz and LG Electronics helps to further the commercial rollout of WEA 3.0 and GEO-Fencing.”