Both companies offer:
O-RU Compliance Testing. Fronthaul compliance testing, defined by the O-RAN Alliance, ensures that O-RUs are interoperable with the O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU). The joint testing solution includes:
The Rohde & Schwarz R&S SMW200A vector signal generator, R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyzer, and R&S VSE signal analysis software, for emulating a real radio environment by generating, capturing, and analyzing RF signals, extended for O-RAN applications.
The VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester, which implements the M-plane O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) portion and the C/U-plane functionality necessary to configure the interface with the O-RU and the I/Q data exchange via the Open Fronthaul.
The O-RU Test Manager application, which provides a single point of control for the embedded system, simplifies the test case workflow while allowing for deeper data inspection and analysis as needed.
The same configuration can also be used to perform compliance cases defined by 3GPP TS 38.141/36.141 for 5G/LTE base stations (BS).
Testing scalability. As O-RAN radios move toward commercial deployment, development testing must extend beyond lab compliance validation to broader use case and functionality testing within R&D. These new use cases prioritize testing simplicity, speed, and cost-effectiveness. The R&S PVT360A is a compact vector signal analyzer (VSA) and vector signal generator (VSG) that, when combined with the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester and the VIAVI O-RU Test Manager application, provides a more scalable solution. This simpler, cost-optimized setup is well-suited for R&D teams requiring multiple test lines to accelerate time to market. The O-RU TM500 tester can also be scaled to provide direct performance testing, such as uplink and downlink data throughput and capacity testing.
Energy savings in the network. O-RAN radio units (O-RUs) consume the majority of the energy in 5G radio access networks. Network equipment manufacturers and service providers are prioritizing the energy efficiency of O-RUs without sacrificing performance. Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI have developed a fully automated test bench to verify the energy efficiency of O-RUs, which includes the R&S RTO6 oscilloscope, the R&S NGP800 power supply, and the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester. The TM500 O-RU Tester emulates the O-RU, synchronizes and configures it, and offers various test scripts to verify the O-RU's energy efficiency under different load conditions. The R&S team can then monitor the device's dynamic activity in relation to energy consumption: The oscilloscope monitors energy dynamics under various traffic conditions by tracking power changes over time, while the power supply—in addition to powering the O-RU—also provides high-resolution and accurate measurements over extended periods. The O-RU Test Manager application ensures a seamless user experience across the entire test bench.
