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VIAVI offers support for detecting interference between 5G and avionics systems

26th January 2022

Kiera Sowery

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Viavi Solutions has announced support for verifying the existence of any interference between 5G communications networks and radar altimeters used in the aviation industry.based on its history of testing both wireless and avionics equipment for communication service providers, airlines, military branches and equipment manufacturers worldwide.

Any potential interference would occur in a very narrow band of radio frequency, one that is technically not even part of the C-band (3.7-3.98GHz) being utilised by communication service providers. Radar altimeter (RADALT) systems use the 4.2-4.4GHz band. However, there is potential for interference from the edges of these bands, which can be mitigated by testing and adjusting both 5G networks and RADALT systems prior to live deployment.

VIAVI has established a testbed consisting of:

The VIAVI ALT-9000, which provides altitude simulations with true RF time delay and path loss models to test any format of RADALT system including low probability of intercept (LPI), combined altitude radar altimeter (CARA) and next-gen variants. The ALT-9000 is instrumental in enabling rigorous test procedures and workflows to assess, evaluate, and monitor the RADALT vulnerability to any potential 5G interference.
The VIAVI OneAdvisor 800, which provides real-time spectrum analysis for the 5G C-band range of frequency with 2D and 3D spectrogram plot. The OneAdvisor 800 monitors and detects channel leakage and frequency bleeding as well as spurious emissions that potentially can impact RADALT operations.
The VIAVI Ranger, which provides broadband recording and playback of RF signal environments. The Ranger records real-world 5G signals and plays them back into RADALT devices during test to simulate 5G C-band interference. When used in conjunction with the ALT-9000 and One Advisor 800, the Ranger enables advanced testing under real-world conditions.

“At VIAVI, we have a unique current understanding about potential interference in C-band, as we are deeply involved in both 5G communications and RADALT technologies,” said Sameh Yamany, Chief Technology Officer, VIAVI, and author of ‘Understanding 5G’. “From this vantage point, we aim to help the industry and government regulators tackle any issues comprehensively, to enable communication service providers and aviation to operate harmoniously.”