Rohde & Schwarz & VIAVI expand partnership for O-RU testing

Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI Solutions have announced an expansion of their existing partnership aimed at delivering advanced Open Radio Unit (O-RU) testing solutions. These solutions are designed to meet radio manufacturers' requirements expected to bid for the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund’s second funding opportunity, focused on Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation.

With the launch of this extended partnership, Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI aim to leverage their combined expertise to create compact, flexible solutions that promise a seamless user experience. Among these offerings, the O-RU Conformance Test includes advanced tools and systems to ensure interoperability between O-RUs and O-RAN distributed units (O-DUs). Central to this are the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator, R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyser and the R&S VSE signal analysis software from Rohde & Schwarz, which emulate a real-world radio environment by generating, capturing, and analysing RF signals tailored for O-RAN applications.

VIAVI’s TM500 O-RU Tester plays a crucial role in implementing the O-DU side of the M-plane and C/U-plane functionality required for configuring the interface with the O-RU and exchanging I/Q data over the Open Fronthaul. The O-RU Test Manager application also serves as a single control point, simplifying the test case workflow while providing in-depth data inspection and analysis capabilities.

The joint solution can also be adapted to perform conformance tests defined by the 3GPP TS 38.141/36.141 for 5G and LTE base stations, expanding its utility and application range. As O-RAN radios approach commercial deployment, the focus shifts from mere lab validation of conformance to comprehensive testing of use cases and functionality within R&D. Addressing this need, the R&S PVT360A, a single-box vector signal analyser and generator, integrates with the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester and its Test Manager Application to offer a more scalable, cost-optimised setup. This benefits R&D teams that require multiple test lines to expedite time-to-market processes. The TM500 O-RU Tester is also scalable for direct performance testing, such as evaluating uplink and downlink data performance and capacity.

Another significant focus of this extended partnership is enhancing network energy efficiency, a critical factor as O-RU units consume substantial power in 5G radio access networks. Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI have developed a fully automated testbed to prioritise energy efficiency without compromising performance. This includes the R&S RTO6 oscilloscope, the R&S NGP800 power supply, and the VIAVI TM500 O-RU Tester. The testbed verifies O-RU energy efficiency under various load conditions; the oscilloscope monitors energy dynamics, while the power supply offers high resolution and accuracy over time. The O-RU Test Manager Application ensures a smoother and unified user experience across the testbed.

Alexander Pabst, Vice President of the Wireless Communications Market Segment at Rohde & Schwarz, stated, “Our joint O-RU conformance test solution has been instrumental in testing various O-RUs at global O-RAN ALLIANCE events and has established a strong presence at Open Testing and Integration Center (OTIC) labs worldwide.” He added that the collaboration is poised to support the NTIA’s efforts to advance Open Radio technology.

Ian Langley, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Wireless Business Unit at VIAVI, highlighted the progress in open radio technologies and evolving test requirements, emphasising, “We are pleased to expand our partnership into areas like scalability for use across the development cycle and energy saving, which have become critical.”