Accelerate the Commercialization of Open RAN Radio Units (O-RU) with VALOR and NTIA

VIAVI is thrilled to collaborate with you to speed up the development of open radio units and to join you as a testing partner in applying for NTIA NOFO 2 funding.

VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN VALOR

Together with Rohde & Schwarz, we have developed a full suite of O-RAN development and conformance test solutions. They are ideally suited to the needs of radio manufacturers planning to bid for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) Second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 2), focusing on Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation.

Based on specifications set by TIP, 3GPP, O-RAN Alliance Working Groups, and TIFG, our solutions cover the entire product lifecycle and help you to launch products on time and within budget.

Get both VIAVI's expertise in protocol development and base station emulation, and Rohde & Schwarz's extensive RF experience to support your development and manufacturing teams.

Key Test Areas

Fronthaul conformance tests, defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE, ensure that O-RUs are interoperable with the O-RAN distributed unit (O-DU). The joint test solution includes:

  • R&S SMW200A-SMBV100Bvector signal generator, R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyser, R&S VSE signal analysis software: emulate a real-world radio environment by generating, capturing, and analysing RF signals, extended for O-RAN applications.
  • VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester:  implements the O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) side of the M-plane and C/U-plane functionality necessary to configure the interface with the O-RU and exchange of I/Q data over the Open Fronthaul
  • O-RU Test Manager application: provides a single point of control for the integrated system, simplifying testcase workflow while allowing deeper data inspection and analysis as needed.

The same set-up can be also used for performing conformance cases defined by 3GPP TS 38.141/36.141 for 5G/LTE transceiver for your O-RU.

O-RU conformance test solution has been proven to work against large scale of different O-RUs at several O-RAN ALLIANCE plugfest. The solution is also widely used at OTIC labs around the world.

As O-RAN radios move to commercial deployment, development testing needs to move beyond lab validation of conformance to greater use case and functionality testing within R&D. These newer use cases prioritize simplicity, speed, and cost effectiveness in testing. It's a scalable, cost-efficient, and streamlined setup ideal for R&D teams needing multiple test lines to speed up time to market.

  • R&S PVT360A: compact, single-box vector signal analyser (VSA) and vector signal generator (VSG). Together with the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester and VIAVI O-RU Test Manager Application it provides a more scalable solution.
  • TM500 O-RU Tester: can also be scaled to provide direct performance testing such as uplink and downlink data performance and capacity testing.

Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI have developed a fully automated testbed to verify O-RU energy efficiency, including:

  • R&S RTO6 oscilloscope: monitors energy dynamics under various traffic conditions by tracking power changes over time.
  • R&S NGP800 power supply: powers the O-RU and provides high measurement resolution and accuracy over a long period of time.
  • VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester: emulates the DU, synchronizes, and configures the O-RU and offers several test scripts to verify O-RU energy efficiency under different load conditions.
  • O-RU Test Manager Application: ensures a seamless user experience across the testbed.

Complete Solutions for Radio Manufacturers

VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR™)
This project is funded by the Public Wireless Innovation Fund. A recipient of the NTIA PWSCIF First Notice of Funding Opportunity, VALOR provides a pathway to certification in the U.S. for new entrants, startups and academia.

VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR™)
  • Fully automated, cooperative, open and impartial Lab-as-a-Service / Test-as-a-Service based on the industry-leading NITRO® Wireless Open RAN Test Suite, which includes the TM500 and TeraVM test platforms and covers O-RU conformance, performance, security and interoperability testing
  • Compliant with MNO extensive requirements to deploy equipment at scale, as required by NOFO 2
  • Leverages a full set of golden O-RAN compliant O-RUs, O-DUs and O-CUs from several reputable partners and a large RF anechoic chamber
  • Offers Massive MIMO and beamforming over-the-air (OTA) validation including system-level Massive MIMO performance testing
  • Enhances legacy conformance test tools with Direct Performance Test capabilities such as uplink and downlink data performance and capacity testing
  • Access is free for academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees, subject to availability

Test-as-a-Service (TaaS) 
For short-term and time-sensitive 5G and Open RAN projects, you can use it as a complementary alternative to handle peaks in your lab demand with “in-house testing” approach. It is available to major NEMs and CSPs.

Rohde & Schwarz Signal Generation and Analysis Solutions
They fully support 3GPP TS 36.141 and TS 38.141 base station conformance testing. Now extended to support automated O-RAN WG4 conformance testing (O-RAN.WG4.CONF) when paired with a VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester.

R&S®FSW Signal and Spectrum Analyzer and R&S®SMW200 Vector signal generator are future proven platforms that can be used to drive innovation and research in the field of 6G wireless communication.

VIAVI Open RAN Portfolio

VIAVI Open RAN Portfolio

VIAVI Practical Experience with O-RU Vendors

VIAVI practical experience with O-RU Vendors

 

Let’s partner for your testing needs when bidding for the NTIA Second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 2).

Contact Us

Rohde & Schwarz Test Solutions


 


 

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