'World's first' MCX field test ecosystem launched

Mission-critical communications (MCX) companies Softil, Rohde & Schwarz and Alea have jointly announced what they claim is the world’s first MCX field testing solution, which combines each company’s expertise and enables MCX solutions to become field tested for interoperability and compatibility.

MCX is a priority step towards first responders’ broadband communications and data services needs based on 3GPP standard technologies. It combines the advantages of established standards for signalling and media with highly secure and prioritised communications.

MCX can be deployed as a subsystem in public networks as well as dedicated carriers or even as a separate network infrastructure. The mission-critical system allows first responders and authorities to benefit from a nationwide infrastructure and enables state-of-the-art data access and audiovisual communications.

“Field testing is key to ensuring the highest reliability, performance and interoperability of MCX products and services in the market and those in the pipeline,” said Softil CEO Pierre Hagendorf. “As the MCX industry enters the era of critical mass, it is increasingly important to first validate MCX services in the field, which is exactly what this combined effort delivers.”

As part of the collaboration, Softil provides 3GPP-compliant software functions for MCX communications on the client side; Alea (a Leonardo company) supports the test ecosystem with a test server infrastructure; and test and measurement specialist Rohde & Schwarz integrates MCX in automated field-test devices and measurement and reporting functions.

“We are very proud to have implemented an MCX software client in our QualiPoc smartphone platform based on Softil’s BEEHD software, which gives us full control over the signalling and media flow for all 3GPP-relevant test cases in the field,” said Axel Hansmann, Vice President Mobile Network Testing and Cellular Network Analysis at Rohde & Schwarz. “With Alea’s support, we have been able to offer a turnkey end-to-end test system in an extremely short development time.”

“Alea brings its pioneering MCX platform to this partnership enabling the rapid development of the world’s first MCX complete field testing solution,” added Alea CEO Giuseppe Merlino. “This three-way partnership sets the testing standard for the fast-developing MCX industry.”

Image credit: iStock.com/AlenaPaulus