VALOR Lab, an Arizona-based company, has expanded its capabilities with a new RF chamber, providing a highly automated, open, and impartial Lab-as-a-Service / Test-as-a-Service suite for Open RAN interoperability, performance, and security. The RF chamber was provided by ETS-Lindgren, a specialist in wireless over-the-air (OTA) performance testing. This chamber is the industry’s first test-as-a-service offering for Massive MIMO and beamforming over-the-air (OTA) validation, including system-level Massive MIMO performance testing for up to 16 parallel spatial layers. • Key features of the new RF chamber include:
- OTA testing for Massive MIMO and beamforming
- System-level Massive MIMO performance testing for up to 16 parallel spatial layers
- Compliance with O-RAN WG4, WG5, WG11, TIFG, and 3GPP specifications
Massive MIMO technology uses large arrays of antennas to support the increased data rates and spectral efficiency of 5G networks. By providing a more realistic and efficient testing environment, the new RF chamber streamlines the testing process and allows for faster product development and commercialization. “Compared to traditional testing using electrical cabling between test instruments and the device under test (DUT), OTA streamlines the testing process by placing the DUT in a chamber shielded from outside interference and testing it with wireless signals to further emulate real-world scenarios,” said Viavi. The expansion of the VALOR Lab’s capabilities addresses the growing demand for its innovative Open RAN Lab-as-a-Service offering, which helps democratize Open RAN testing for technology vendors by providing them with a comprehensive, on-demand test suite throughout the entire product lifecycle.
“We are excited to offer OTA testing that will help accelerate O-RU commercialization and innovation,” said Erik Probstfield, Senior Director at VALOR.
With two additional labs now available, customers can access over 500 test cases compliant with O-RAN WG4, WG5, WG11, TIFG, and 3GPP specifications.
| Benefits of the new RF Chamber |
|---|
| • Highly automated testing environment |
| • Open and impartial testing environment |
| • Streamlines the testing process |
The expansion of the VALOR Lab’s capabilities highlights the importance of innovative testing solutions in the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry. By providing a more efficient and realistic testing environment, the new RF chamber will help technology vendors accelerate their product development and commercialization, ultimately driving innovation and advancements in AI-powered telecommunications. In addition to the new RF chamber, the VALOR Lab offers a range of other services, including performance and security testing, interoperability testing, and cybersecurity testing. These services are designed to help technology vendors ensure the reliability, security, and performance of their Open RAN solutions. Overall, the expansion of the VALOR Lab’s capabilities marks a significant milestone in the development of Open RAN testing solutions, and the new RF chamber is poised to play a key role in accelerating the commercialization of O-RU technology. Key Highlights:
* The new RF chamber is the industry’s first test-as-a-service offering for Massive MIMO and beamforming over-the-air (OTA) validation
* The chamber includes system-level Massive MIMO performance testing for up to 16 parallel spatial layers
* The chamber is compliant with O-RAN WG4, WG5, WG11, TIFG, and 3GPP specifications
* The expansion of the VALOR Lab’s capabilities addresses the growing demand for its innovative Open RAN Lab-as-a-Service offering
* The new RF chamber will help accelerate O-RU commercialization and innovation
* O-RAN: Open RAN refers to an architecture that enables the creation of a highly interoperable, flexible, and scalable radio access network. O-RAN is designed to be open, modular, and programmable, allowing multiple vendors to contribute to the development and deployment of the network. * Massive MIMO: Massive MIMO technology uses large arrays of antennas to support the increased data rates and spectral efficiency of 5G networks. It is a key technology for next-generation wireless communication systems. * O-RU: O-RU refers to an Open RAN User Equipment. O-RU is a type of user equipment that is designed to work with the O-RAN architecture.
* 5G: 5G is the fifth generation of wireless communication technology. It is designed to provide faster data rates, lower latency, and greater connectivity than its predecessors. * Wireless Over-the-Air (OTA) Testing: Wireless over-the-air testing is a method of testing wireless communication systems using wireless signals. It is used to simulate real-world scenarios and test the performance of devices and networks in a more realistic environment.
* Erik Probstfield: Erik Probstfield is the Senior Director at VALOR. He is responsible for leading the company’s Open RAN Lab-as-a-Service offering. * ETS-Lindgren: ETS-Lindgren is a specialist in wireless over-the-air (OTA) performance testing. The company provided the RF chamber used by the VALOR Lab. * Viavi: Viavi is a leading provider of testing and measurement solutions for the telecommunications industry. The company developed the new RF chamber and provides the testing services used by the VALOR Lab.
