The first Reduced Capability (RedCap) device emulation for testing 5G networks has been made available by Viavi Solutions. Wearables, commercial wireless sensors, and security camera systems are just a few examples of the smaller, less expensive devices that can be used with this ground-breaking technology to validate real performance for the IoT and private networks.
The solution makes use of the 5G NR Release 17-introduced 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard for RedCap devices, commonly known as Broadband IoT or NR-Light. These mid-tier IoT devices are appropriate for IoT and Industry 4.0 applications deployed at the network edge due to their average speed and latency requirements.
Senior Vice President of VIAVI’s Wireless Business Unit, Ian Langley. “5G adoption may be stabilizing on a worldwide scale, but private and industrial networks are still in the early stages. RedCap specifications fill in the gaps for the class of devices utilized in these applications, giving equipment developers and operators the security they need to move forward with deployment. With device emulation, the TM500 enhances crucial validation capabilities and hastens the implementation of RedCap.
Up to this point, RedCap device testing has suffered significantly from early validation efforts in 5G network testing that were primarily concerned with conformance and network emulation.
The enhanced TM500 platform smoothly incorporates RedCap device testing into the current test environment, enabling the ability to produce signaling specifically for RedCap use cases, simulate traffic patterns resembling those of RedCap, and assess the network’s performance for RedCap use cases. Reusing known, embedded per-device fading channel models is one of the main benefits of using TM500 for RedCap testing.
For the purpose of simulating real-world wireless propagation situations, such as multipath propagation and signal fading, fading channel models are crucial. These circumstances are essential for effectively testing the dependability and performance of devices in a real-world network setting.
Viavi offers precise simulation of various scenarios and aids in evaluating the performance of RedCap devices in difficult propagation settings by integrating the TM500 with fading channel models.
For IoT and private networks, Viavi’s launch of the first RedCap device emulation in the industry for 5G network testing marks a significant advancement. Manufacturers and operators may confidently advance with the development and rollout of next-generation 5G apps and services by validating the performance and dependability of RedCap devices.
