Keysight launches first open RAN testing lab in Europe
Keysight is launching its first complete open radio access network (Open RAN) testing laboratory for Europe at the company's Milan office in Italy.
Traditionally, radio access network (RAN) deployments have relied on proprietary network equipment from single vendors. However, service providers are now adopting an Open RAN model for 5G that allows them to mix and match network elements from different vendors to build a RAN. While Open RAN provides flexibility and cost savings, it also presents significant conformance and interoperability challenges.
To assist European-based mobile operators and network equipment manufacturers with verifying the interoperability and performance of their Open RAN solutions, Keysight is offering a complete edge-to-core testing and measurement consultancy in Milan.
Open RAN (O-RAN) wireless networks are moving toward a virtualised, disaggregated RAN with standard interfaces. Keysight's end-to-end Open RAN Architect solutions enable conformance, interoperability, performance, and security testing across the entire lifecycle with suites specifically tailored for chipset makers, software stack developers, network equipment manufacturers (NEMs), mobile operators, and Open Test and Integration Centres (OTICs).
Built on the Keysight Open RAN Architect (KORA) solution, the laboratory setup conducts radio unit testing aligned to the latest conformance tests from the O-RAN ALLIANCE. Through early testing during the development cycle, Keysight can help accelerate the deployment of virtualised platforms to support the stringent demands of 5G Open RAN.
KORA solutions enable conformance, interoperability, performance, and security testing across the entire Open RAN lifecycle, with suites specifically tailored for chipset makers, software stack developers, network equipment manufacturers, mobile operators, and OTIC.
KORA offers integrated solutions that accelerate O-RAN-compliant equipment development, integration, and deployment. The suites are tailored to the supply chain workflow. As a result, users can uniquely access a common set of solutions to simplify the sharing of results across the workflow from pre-silicon to cloud deployments.
KORA Chip Designer Suite enables chipset vendors to verify compliance of O-RAN designs to O-RAN specifications using O-RAN simulation tools prior to tape out, reducing development time.
KORA NEM Suite verifies interoperability and hardware and software compliance to O-RAN specifications, ensuring each function integrates as expected into a multivendor open RAN.
KORA Operator Suite verifies conformance, interoperability, and performance of subsystems that drive new 5G service revenue opportunities.
KORA OTIC Suite validates conformance, interoperability, and performance using tools that adhere to the ORAN specifications with thorough, repeatable, and automated processes.
"Keysight's Open RAN Architect solutions are the answer to Open RAN testing needs. This complete, one-stop test setup simplifies the sharing of results across the entire workflow and speeds time to market. With our broad portfolio, we are offering the most comprehensive lab setup for radio unit testing, complete with network and user equipment emulators and radio frequency equipment," says Carlo Santangelo, EMEAI Solutions Engineer Director, Keysight.
