Spirent Focuses on Testing E911 and Location Based Services for LTE Networks

Spirent (News - Alert) Communications has enhanced its Location Based Services or LBS LTE (News - Alert) test solution due to the increased demand for LBS and the FCC authorization for best possible E911 performance. Spirent’s LBS LTE solution now supports LTE Positioning Protocol or LPP and Observed Time Difference of Arrival or OTDOA, thereby meeting the FCC (News - Alert) requirements of E911 on LTE networks.

Spirent Communications has now joined the wireless industry in providing solutions offering precise everywhere location, which is important for acceptance of LBS in the mainstream. The areas where emergency services or E911 and LBS need to be delivered have considerably become more intricate.

Innovative positioning technologies and positioning protocols can now be launched with the implementation of LTE, which allows the exchange of location data between the mobile device and network units.

In a release, Rob Van Brunt, vice president of Wireless business at Spirent Communications (News - Alert) said, “This time last year, we launched the SUPL 2.0 test capabilities on our LTE test solution which put our customers on a timely course to successful deployments of LTE SUPL positioning. We are now excited to deliver our latest enhancements, which include extensive test coverage for SUPL 2.0/LPP and a fully automated system for testing user equipment performance for LPP and OTDOA.”

He added, “With our unique understanding of the importance and complexity of these technologies, Spirent is well positioned to assist customers in expediting the delivery of new location based devices for the growing number of LTE networks.”

User experience of indoor LBS has vastly improved with the LTE positioning technology, OTDOA. This technology is also primarily responsible for supporting E911. A mixed approach in delivering significant LBS performance improvement can be produced by OTDOA along with GNSS measurements, which are based on timing measurements from several base stations signals. OTDOA and other positioning technologies are allowed on the LTE network with the positioning protocol, LPP.

Spirent Communications will exhibit its solutions for LBS testing on mobile devices during The Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) 2012 will be held from February 27 to March 1, in Barcelona, Spain.