Aeroflex SV-LTE voice and data testing

Aeroflex has added voice and data testing capability to the 7100 LTE digital radio test set.

The option 104 now has added test capability for simultaneous emulation of LTE data and 1X CDMA voice, which is known as SV-LTE (simultaneous voice-long term evolution). The ability to test a voice channel and an LTE data channel within a single test system simplifies mobile handset testing.

Simultaneous voice and data is a key performance technology that enables network operators to offer users the advantages of LTE’s high data rates.

As LTE operators shift from supporting data-only devices to deploying mobile LTE handsets based on multiple radio access technologies, there is increasing demand for these devices to support voice call services over legacy 3G networks. Simulating both RATs in a single test system reduces test set-up complexity and speeds up testing time.

The successful testing of SV-LTE is an important step in the three-phase rollout of LTE. In phase one, LTE networks are supporting only data-centric devices such as USB modems.

In phase two, handset devices are being added that rely on fallback technologies (WCDMA or 1X CDMA) for voice support.

The third stage will introduce handset devices using the LTE network for both data and voice over IP (VOIP). Aeroflex test systems support operators during each phase of the rollout.

The option allows the engineer to verify: data throughput/performance - to determine any impact on speed or latency; voice - to ensure that there is no loss of audio or audio clipping due to the processing load; protocol - to confirm that both rat protocols operate successfully and do not impact each other’s message exchange or timing; battery performance - to determine how the battery life is impacted due to SV-LTE.

In addition, it provides integrated protocol logging and decoding both RATs.