Viavi Solutions announced partnership with technology supplier Picocom to provide test solutions for validation of Open RAN base station components, including chips, physical layers and protocol stack software, for small cell 5G networks compliant with O-RAN standards.
Picocom, an Open RAN baseband semiconductor and software specialist, is involved with the O-RAN ALLIANCE and Small Cell Forum (SCF) to advance Open RAN standards for intelligent, manageable and controllable small cell base stations, meeting the differentiated needs of various markets.

The VIAVI TM500 network tester is capable of measuring the complete performance of the 5G network over multiple interfaces, including Open Fronthaul and RF through to the packet core. Picocom selected the TM500 for use in the lab to create a precise test environment, including feature interactions, simulated RF and accurate replications of real-world user behavior profiles, to ensure performance of small cell base stations in O-RAN networks.

Jonus Chen, Vice President, Greater China, VIAVI, said: “5G network testing solutions from VIAVI, combined with Picocom’s expertise in small cell base station components and software, empowers the stringent end-to-end interoperability testing and performance validation that is necessary to advance Open RAN deployments.”