Fronthaul and CRAN testing in 5G
By Sophie Legault Director-T&D Business Unit at EXFO
Why, when and how should you test the various new fiber-based infrastructures being deployed to expand your wireless networks’ reach? You’re short on time, budget and technical resources, but must deliver flawless performance. Even with additional spectrum and the introduction of long-term evolution (LTE) networks, there are geographical areas in mobile networks where demand is projected to exceed the capacity provided by the macro layer.
To expand their networks to other hard-to-reach locations, wireless providers are turning to the deployment of alternative infrastructures, like remote radio heads (RRH), distributed antenna systems (DAS) and other small-cell alternatives, most of which are fiber-based. There's More to It than Just Wireless Since physical and transport layers remain the foundation of a network, they require proper testing to: - Qualify the system and document it for future reference - Ensure that the network meets transmission-system requirements (standards) - Avoid delays and costly repairs when the system is turned up’’
Mobile network operators (MNOs) are transforming their architectures and deploying fiber deeper into radio access networks to add new services and much-needed capacity, while preparing for 5G mobility and IoT. However, as quality of experience is becoming the benchmark for customer satisfaction, it is critical for MNOs to identify all RF interference issues, faster and more accurately.
Radio frequency interference issues in mobile networks can significantly impact the customer experience, but they are not always easy to identify and resolve. EXFO’s high-resolution, real-time OpticalRFTM application enables network engineers and technicians to quickly and easily analyze all RF interference issues in next-generation fiber-based networks, such as C-RAN architectures.
OpticalRF reduces the cost of turning up and maintaining mobile networks by providing access to the RF signal through the digital CPRI link available at the base station, located at the bottom of the cell tower or kilometers away in a data center or the central office. This in turn lowers maintenance costs and enables better network quality, while enabling cell technicians to quickly, easily and accurately analyze external RF interference and both internal and external passive intermodulation, or PIM.
We will demonstrate the Fronthaul and CRAN testing in 5G with several use cases that adresses different aspects of the testing challanges.