5G Mobile Network Installation and Maintenance (I&M) Testing

5G Mobile Network I&M Implementation

Implementing three key elements of 5G (low latency, high speed and large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections) is expected to facilitate rollout of new applications in fields such as self-driving vehicles, remote control of heavy machinery, ultra-high-definition video streaming, telepresence at sports events, etc. However, actually implementing applications taking advantage of low latency, high speeds, large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections not only requires a communications technology paradigm shift from 4G to 5G but also requires a simultaneous technical revolution for 5G mobile networks from 4G (LTE). Currently, 5G mobile network and proof-of-concept testing are in progress, but rollout of commercial 5G mobile network services requires provision of measurement solutions at 5G mobile network I&M for assuring stable operation and preventive maintenance of mobile fronthaul, Core, Metro, etc., network components.

5G Mobile Network Innovation

5G mobile networks are innovating as follows against a background of 5G technology featuring low latency, high speeds, large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections.

Making the above switch in radio communications technology from 4G to 5G results in huge innovations in mobile networks supporting 5G. In addition, as commercial 5G comes into practical use, as well as increases in numbers of small 5G base station installations and conversions to optical fiber, we can expect the following increased demand based on the above-described innovation.

1. Need for base station installation and maintenance test instruments supporting new eCPRI/RoE communications technology
2. Need for test instruments supporting precision optical fiber measurements
3. Need for test instruments supporting accurate measurement of beamforming signals in active antenna systems
4. More optical fiber I&M companies requiring effective test instruments for evaluating 100G/25G Ethernet and optical circuits

Consequently, rollout of commercial 5G services will cause large changes in base-station and optical-network I&M. In other words, efficient reliable network measurement is needed more than ever.

Actual 5G Mobile Network I&M Measurements

The following measurements are key to successful 5G mobile network I&M.

Products

Network Master Pro MT1000A  Transport  Optical Fiber

This portable, all-in-one, expandable tester supports 10/100G, OTDR, and CPRI tests.
Adding the 100G Transport Module enables eCPRI/RoE, and precision latency and time synchronization measurements.

ACCESS Master MT9085 Series  Optical Fiber

This compact optical fiber tester has a built-in OTDR and optical power and loss measurement functions to increase the efficiency of optical cable I&M work between 5G base stations and data centers, etc.

Field Master Pro MS2090A  RF

The Field Master Pro MS2090A RF spectrum analyzer is the highest performing handheld test and measurement solution available to meet the challenges of 5G field testing while maintaining support for a full range of wireless technologies.

High-Speed Digital Communications Market

With its development of a 2-Gbps pulse pattern generator and an error rate tester in 1975, Anritsu achieved the world’s first gigabit-order transmission speed, forming the foundation for today’s ultra-high-speed technologies. We started marketing dedicated measuring instruments for high-speed digital transmission circuits and equipment from the 1990s, and developed 10-Gbit/s SONET/SDH/PDH/ATM analyzers in 2000. They were adopted by the world’s major equipment manufacturers and communications carriers, becoming hit product(s) for the ultra-high-speed digital communications era. Following this success, we released an Ethernet analyzer and 100-Gbps measuring instruments with world-beating technologies for the world’s digital communications markets.

World Leader in Optical Measurement Technologies

Commercial optical measurement products appeared in 1977 and Anritsu took the world lead by developing an optical pulse test OTDR in 1980. The 1984 boom in installation of optical fiber communications networks marked large-volume orders for the OTDR, and in 1995 Anritsu released the world’s fastest rugged and compact OTDR for the handheld I&M market (commercialized as first ACCESS master in 2004). Then in 2009, Anritsu released the world’s dedicated OTDR for undersea cables with an incredible 10-meter fault-detection resolution over ultra-long 12,000-km undersea optical cables. Subsequently, Anritsu optical measuring instruments still lead the world, based on our superior technologies and long experience in precision measurement.

5G mobile networks are not composed just of the mobile fronthaul—they include the mobile backhaul, and the Core and Metro optical networks, so stable and reliable operation of the entire network infrastructure depends on integrated optical-fiber measurements, eCPRI/RoE and precision latency measurements for assuring high speeds and low latency, and PTP time synchronization measurements.

Sweeping the RF market with the portable products

With the proliferation of commercial cellular networks in the early 1980s, there was an increasing demand for portable, handheld test and measurement equipment. Existing benchtop scalar, vector network, and spectrum analyzers were cumbersome to carry (weighing 100s of pounds) and often required field technicians, engineers, and wireless network installers to bring A/C power in case there was none at the site. In 1995, Anritsu introduced the Site Master™ product line – the world’s first handheld cable and antenna analyzer. This revolutionized test and measurement industry by providing a portable, handheld, battery-operated solution that provided the necessary measurements in a small form factor. In 1999, Anritsu continued revolutionizing the test and measurement industry with the introduction of the Spectrum Master™ product line – the world’s first handheld spectrum analyzer. Once again, field technicians, engineers, and wireless network installers were able to replace existing benchtop spectrum analyzers solutions with a portable, battery-operated solution that provided the same quality measurements at a fraction of the size and weight. As cellular technologies progressed from GSM through wideband CDMA and on to LTE, Anritsu included comprehensive demodulation measurements in to these portable products thereby making these product even more comprehensive and further simplifying the job of the RF field engineers.