GCF gives approval to conformance test cases

17th November 2014

Mick Elliott

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The GCF, the certification body for the mobile phone industry, has validated Anritsu’s LTE eMBMS Band 4 and Band 13 RF conformance test cases. Anritsu is the world’s first test equipment supplier to gain validation for these Band4 and Band 13 RF conformance test cases. The enhanced Multimedia Broadcasting Multicast Services (eMBMS) technology is a multicast service for LTE mobile networks which provides for high capacity data distribution.

The eMBMS technology enables network operators to simultaneously broadcast data to unlimited numbers of users on an LTE network, providing for high distribution efficiency. eMBMS can also be used during live broadcasts to send multiple video streams from different angles to crowds at concerts, sports events, etc. Commercial eMBMS services started in South Korea in 2014, and are expected to start soon in North America.

The new Anritsu release, approved by the GCF in October 2014, is a set of conformance test cases (specifically WI-164 E-UTRA MBMS Rel-9 FDD supporting Band 4 and Band 13) as used in North America. As a result, Anritsu measurement solutions now support GCF-validated LTE eMBMS conformance tests for frequencies expected to enter commercial service in North America before the end of 2014.

The GCF-approved eMBMS tests are available as an option in the Anritsu ME7873L RF conformance test platform. This test platform enables device OEMs to confirm that the RF transmission and reception characteristics and performance of LTE/LTE-Advanced terminals conform to the 3GPP standards. It supports LTE/LTE-Advanced RF/RRM conformance tests for use in carrier acceptance testing by network operators in Japan, North America and Asia. Anritsu continues to focus on gaining GCF and PTCRB validations to help facilitate the early roll-out of LTE eMBMS in various frequency bands.