JDSU Introduces a Mobile Test First: RFoCPRI™

>Milpitas, Calif., September 4, 2014 – JDSU today announced updates to its cellular tower-testing solution that allow field technicians to quickly and more affordably identify and fix signal interference problems without having to climb the tower. By adding Radio Frequency over Common Public Radio Interface (RFoCPRI™) capabilities to JDSU’s CellAdvisor Base Station Analyzer, the company has enabled simple and more cost-effective remote maintenance and management of next-generation fiber-based cell sites.

With the proliferation of connected mobile devices worldwide, new complexities to cell site tower architecture are emerging to keep pace with changing protocols, macro cells, small cells, distributed antennae systems (DAS), heterogeneous networks (HetNets) and fiber deployments that aim to increase network capacity and improve service coverage.

To meet this demand, CPRI, a radio interface standard, has been developed in the mobile industry to define a specification for RF to be delivered over fiber technology. CPRI is an ideal fit for fiber because it enables high-bandwidth and low-latency transport.

“With CellAdvisor, JDSU was the first to integrate optical power capabilities on a base station tester, the first to introduce integrated fiber inspection and now the first to introduce integrated CPRI,” said Jim Nerschook, vice president in JDSU’s Network and Service Enablement business segment. “With all of these capabilities in one dynamic tester, there is a built-in operational expense advantage—users will now be able to do even more and do it faster. Best of all, safety is dramatically improved by keeping the technician off the tower.”

“The pace of change in the mobile industry is unprecedented - advancements in cell tower technology are helping to improve service coverage and signal quality,” said Olga Shapiro, program manager for Measurement and Instrumentation at Frost & Sullivan, a global research group. “JDSU’s RF over CPRI introduction to its base station analyzer was developed in close collaboration with mobile operators and presents a truly innovative solution. Technicians will be able to maintain and manage fiber-based cell sites faster, easier and less expensively. What’s also impressive is the feature minimizes dangerous tower climbs which can improve safety, lower maintenance cost, and reduce test time.”

Highlights include:

• RFoCPRI technology. JDSU’s RFoCPRI technology captures and analyzes the RF metrics whether the line is fiber with CPRI or coax.
• Engineered for fiber-based architectures. Technicians can capture and analyze RF measurements from the tower base and troubleshoot interference issues, analyze signals and optimize the cell site RF to ensure end-users receive a high quality mobile service.
• One instrument, one site visit. No other base station analyzer can conduct RF, CPRI, optical power and fiber test all in one instrument.         
• Resolves issues faster. Performs spectrum measurements 20-times faster than radio management system; resolves complex RF issues with greater granularity.

The new feature will be on display at CTIA’s Super Mobility Week event September 9-11, 2014 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, JDSU booth # 6032. 

The CellAdvisor, part of JDSU’s acquisition of GenComm, is the fastest base station analyzer on the market and the only tester to offer a portable, cloud-enabled solution that tests both RF coax and fiber cables. It is an all-in-one base station analyzer, RF analyzer, and signal analyzer with LTE-Advanced capability for use in installing and maintaining modern wireless communication systems.

About JDSU 
JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU; TSX: JDU) innovates and collaborates with customers to build and operate the highest-performing and highest-value networks in the world. Our diverse technology portfolio also fights counterfeiting and enables high-powered commercial lasers for a range of applications. Learn more about JDSU at www.jdsu.com and follow us on JDSU Perspectives,Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.