China’s mobile network operators select test scanners from Rohde & Schwarz for 5G network optimization

Munich, April 29, 2021 — In China, commercial use of 5G networks started in 2019. By today, it has developed into one of the largest 5G networks worldwide, operated by the three principle mobile carriers: China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. The increasing number of 5G NR base stations have made China’s mobile networks more complex. In addition, the impact of 5G NR on existing 4G networks needs to be taken into consideration. Therefore, even after the initial deployment of 5G, optimization to improve network performance and efficiency becomes increasingly important.

The ultracompact R&S TSME6 drive test scanner from Rohde & Schwarz is critical for measuring coverage and interference. Major network operators and infrastructure providers around the world have been using it from the early stages of 5G deployment onwards to optimize the overall performance of their 5G NR networks. The scanner passively captures data from the air interface, offering an accurate view of the RF environment and all information messages of multiple technologies sent out by the networks without the need to subscribe to the network services. 

The R&S TSME6 scanner supports parallel measurements of wireless technologies including 5G NR, TDD-LTE, FDD-LTE, NB-IoT, eMTC/LTE-M, WCDMA, EVDO, CDMA and GSM, meeting operator needs for simultaneous measurements on 3GPP multistandard networks. In addition, the scanner covers all 5G NR frequency bands for sub6 GHz TDD and FDD, including the 700 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 3.5 GHz frequency bands. In combination with the R&S TSME30DC and R&S TSME44DC downconverters, it supports also the FR2 frequency band from 24 GHz to 44 GHz, fulfilling the requirements of Chinese network operators.

As the industry’s smallest and most lightweight 5G NR multimode scanner featuring the lowest power consumption, the R&S TSME6 offers an excellent test performance. The dynamic range can reach more than 30 dB, its high sensitivity enables it to detect signals as low as -143 dBm, and the 5G NR same-frequency multicell dynamic range is as high as 24 dB. In addition, the R&S TSME6 is the only device on the market that fully detects multipath propagation, measuring power, delay and Doppler shift.

Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing has been cooperating with Zhuhai DingLi Corp., Ltd. to address the Chinese market for more than 10 years. Based in Zhuhai, China, and one of the largest mobile network test and measurement solution providers, the company delivers the drive test software with a Chinese GUI to complement the test scanners from Rohde & Schwarz. The comprehensive mobile network testing solutions from Rohde & Schwarz support all cellular technologies from 2G to 5G, and support the entire network lifecycle, from lab verification, spectral clearance, interference hunting and base station installation to site acceptance, benchmarking, optimization, monitoring and troubleshooting.

For more information on the mobile network testing solutions from Rohde & Schwarz, go to: www.rohde-schwarz.com/mnt

Mobile network testing in brief

Rohde & Schwarz is a leading global supplier of standalone products, integrated solutions and managed services for testing and improving the quality of mobile networks along the entire network lifecycle – from lab verification, spectral clearance, interference hunting and base station installation to site acceptance, benchmarking, optimization, troubleshooting and monitoring. The comprehensive portfolio supports all technologies, from 2G to 5G, and addresses all test and measurement scenarios from RF to end-user quality of experience (QoE). The innovative solutions allow users to accurately collect data and to gain machine learning-assisted deep insights into the QoE delivered to end users. Solutions from Rohde & Schwarz empower top-tier mobile network industry players to make QoE-centric business decisions with confidence, to deliver better services with higher quality for end users, to reduce time to market for new technologies and services and to secure and increase the value of their business.