AT4 wireless expands LTE Advanced Global Testing on Anritsu Test Platforms

Anyone in the U.S. who watches the popular TV show Project Runway knows that at some point in every episode fashion icon Tim Gunn will look at the work of contestants and say, “Make it work!”  As the Mobile World Congress 2015 (MWC) event in Barcelona has highlighted, the mobile world is not just focused on making it work, but making it work every time and all the time.

Whether we’re talking about devices, applications, services, network Quality of Service (QoS) or signaling solutions,  testing is important, as is having key performance indicators that can validate if something is working as promised initially and over the lifecycle.  In a world where you rarely get a second chance to make a first impression, testing is critical. It is what makes the announcement at MWC by AT4 wireless and Anritsu noteworthy. 

The two companies have reached an agreement to upgrade the LTE (News - Alert) Advanced conformance test and carrier acceptance test capabilities in Europe, North America and APAC, supporting certification of mobile devices globally. It adds significant capability for the latest protocol and RF/RRM LTE test packages and Work Items.  Most significantly is that these items include Carrier Aggregation, IMS and VoLTE along with support of both FDD and TDD modes to ensure true global coverage.  Plus, the agreement includes further coverage with Carrier Acceptance Test Programs, where AT4 wireless offers testing services in Europe, North America and APAC.

As an additional part of the capability expansion, Anritsu (News - Alert) is also adding R&TTE test packages and signaling equipment for AT4 wireless´ “Over The Air” test facilities for both CTIA and Carrier specific requirements.

“We are very pleased to extend the relationship with AT4 wireless, using the ME7873L and the ME7834L which are leading test platforms in global certification testing and type approval, and supporting 3G, LTE and LTE-A, with widest test coverage and fastest test times. They are both established market leaders, proven across the industry, and continue to be enhanced to expand coverage on new technologies emerging in LTE-A. We are confident that this capability will help AT4 wireless to provide the best testing facilities,” said Michael Spatny, General Manager for Anritsu EMEA.

"Best Practices" are best when they have been thoroughly tested up front along with standing the tests of usage and time once deployed.  That up-front phase is vital for any product or service.  Given the complexity associated with mobility services, it really comes down to testing everything to assure the first impression is the best one. 

As pointed out in a recent survey by J.D. Power, the explosion of data traffic in the U.S. on mobile networks is causing increasing problems.  It actually helps make the case for adoption by LTE providers of next generation signaling solutions to help handle the load and provide great user experiences.  Indirectly it also makes the case for the importance of testing.