Keysight Technologies announced it is the first company to gain approval from 3GPP for 5G new radio (NR) protocol test cases that support carrier aggregation (CA) technology, using its Protocol Conformance Toolset.

Chipset and device makers rely on 3GPP-verified 5G NR protocol CA test cases to verify designs using CA to increase bandwidth and support higher data rates. These test cases focus on 5G NR deployments using CA in non-standalone and standalone mode in frequency range 1 (FR1) and FR2.

Keysight’s test cases were submitted on March 21, 2020 and verified by the 3GPP’s RAN 5 working group, which works to establish conformance testing specifications for the radio interface of a user equipment.

Keysight then submitted the test cases for verification at the most recent Conformance Agreement Group #62 meeting, led by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) on April 23, 2020, where Keysight’s Protocol Conformance Toolset was confirmed to maintain support for the widest range of GCF-validated protocol conformance test cases.

Comprehensive test case support enables device makers to leverage a common solution platform to verify designs that use different modes to address global requirements.

Following the GCF meeting, Keysight confirmed the RF/RRM DVT & Conformance Toolset offers a leading number of GCF-validated 5G NR RF test cases and bands. The toolset delivers GCF-validated RF test cases enabling users to verify compliance to the C-V2X standard as specified by 3GPP. This will enable the automotive industry to accelerate commercialization of connected cars and autonomous vehicles.

“Keysight consistently supports the development of 5G technologies, such as carrier aggregation, enabling a connected mobile ecosystem to market devices that support advanced 5G applications. Many mobile device makers use Keysight’s 5G solutions to access a comprehensive range of validated test cases for GCF certification across multiple technologies, including 5G NR, LTE and C-V2X, on a common solution platform.” — Kailash Narayanan, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s wireless test group