Viavi upgrades testing solutions to support IoT network

viavi-solutions-for-telecoms
Test and measurement company Viavi Solutions announced its CellAdvisor Base Station Analyzer will support the signal analysis required for narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) connectivity.

Telecom service providers, which are making investment in 5G and IoT, can utilize the new signal analysis capability that will come as an upgrade, for testing for the overlay IoT infrastructure that must co-exist with the traditional mobile communications network.

Viavi Solutions said the IoT will enable devices to maintain low-speed and low-latency connections to mobile communications networks via narrowband signals. These networks will simultaneously need to support high-bandwidth applications such as video streaming using wideband signals, setting up a tension between these usage models.

Network operators are seeking testing solutions to manage these disparate types of connections while maintaining the required quality of experience for each, and minimizing the need to invest in new equipment.

Viavi said telecom operators can install the software-based NB-IoT testing as a license on existing CellAdvisor handheld instruments. The new feature in software further enhances CellAdvisor as a comprehensive solution for the market, offering RF over CPRI and BBU emulation.

With NB-IoT support, CellAdvisor measures the interference and performance impact the NB-IoT signal may have on the LTE wideband signal. It confirms whether the signal has the reach and coverage required to serve the number of devices in the assigned geographic area, taking into account considerations such as building penetration.

Analysis includes signal power levels, digital demodulation analysis and interference analysis down to the single PRB (Physical Resource Block) for the signal under measurement. These measurements provide details of how well the network is operating in terms of performance, coverage and data traffic capacity.

“While much of the focus in the mobile communications industry is on 5G, our carrier and network equipment manufacturer customers are also deep into planning IoT services,” said Kevin Oliver, vice president and general manager, Converged Instruments and Virtual Test, Viavi Solutions.