Radio test station.

A new efficient solution integrated with a hardware platform from HEAD acoustics GmbH for evaluating the voice and audio quality of 5G VoNR devices has been announced Anritsu Corporation. With this new development Anritsu and HEAD acoustics are now able to provide the complete solution together for Voice/Audio quality evaluation for all cellular technologies comprising of 5G SA VoNR, 5G NSA VoLTE, 4G VoLTE, 3G and 2G.

Anritsu’s 5G Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A and SmartStudio NR software with its easy-to-use GUI to simulate a 5G communications environment, now supports HEAD acoustics’ labCORE hardware platform and ACQUA measurement analysis software. This enables users with an effective and complete test environment for evaluating 5G VoNR quality of user devices.

“It’s important for Anritsu to contribute to the performance measurement of the wireless devices as required to ensure confidence of the industry in the new technologies, like 5G VoNR.” said Hiroyuki Kato, Director, Mobile Solutions Div., Anritsu Corporation.  “We’ve a long experience in Network Simulators & have the confidence of the leading chipsets and devices manufacturers; today, our 5G simulator MT8000A and SmartStudio NR software, because of its performance, stability and ease of use is also able to contribute in the key area of VoNR audio quality testing with the help of the key collaboration with HEAD acoustics. “

"We are very proud that with the compatibility to the Anritsu solution, we can offer our customers another way to test and optimize the communication quality of 5G-enabled devices." said Christian Schüring, sales manager Telecom at HEAD acoustics GmbH.

Development Background
A major increase in standalone (SA) mode testing requirements is anticipated as the world’s major communications operators roll-out commercial 5G NR services from 2021 using the SA-mode technology. In contrast to the non-standalone (NSA) mode used in combination with 4G LTE at the start of 5G NR and supporting voice services using 4G called VoLTE, the 5G SA mode strengthens core networks and supporting VoNR technology but requires new methods for evaluating voice quality.

In addition, since 5G SA operates alongside existing 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, voice-quality evaluation methods for 5G SA mobiles must also support 2G to 5G. Consequently, bringing products to market ahead of competitors requires making efficient progress in complex voice-quality testing.

Outline of Test Solution
With its built-in easy-to-use GUI and versatile functions for changing parameters, Anritsu’s SmartStudio makes it easy to control measuring instruments without any complex settings and operations to simulate 2G to 5G base stations and core networks by functioning as an easy call box. Users can execute GUI-based terminal evaluation and performance tests without needing to create test scenarios. At voice and audio-quality evaluations, flexible setting of network conditions makes it easy to reproduce the evaluation environment, playing a key role in efficient analysis. Due to support for external control, users can configure an automated environment matching their test system. labCORE from HEAD acoustics is a modular hardware platform for high-accuracy voice and audio quality tests. It can measure digital and analog telecom and audio devices as well as transmission systems. Multipurpose applications support headset and headphone analysis, binaural analysis and equalization, VoIP reference and gateway functions on one platform. Additionally, ACQUA also from HEAD acoustics is a voice and audio-quality test and measurement software including multichannel signal generation and analyzer functions. Combining ACQUA with labCORE supports analysis of mobile components, finished products, and communication networks via synchronized digital inputs and outputs. International standards such as ITU, 3GPP, GCF, PTCRB, etc., are supported.

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