New Insights | Wireless Network Testing and Network Assurance

In this newsletter, we will discuss two different wireless network testing use cases: testing mission-critical wireless networks using Agnet and measuring 5G networks in 3D with a drone. We will also look into how Keysight's recent partnership with Ataya simplifies network assurance in private 5G networks.

Test Mission-Critical Network Accessibility and Push-to-Talk (PTT) Services Using Agnet

Agnet is a specialized application that provides secure and reliable group communications for public safety authorities and business users. Agnet’s mission-critical services give professional smartphone users reliable access to voice, video, multimedia, files, and location information, allowing instant sharing with a defined group of individuals at the push of a button.

Ensuring the security of group communications among authorities and during mission-critical operations is vital. Public safety network service providers, as well as mobile network operators whose networks are utilized for public safety and mission-critical communications, must guarantee that their network's reliability, availability, and quality meet the required standards.

To verify that the network's quality of service meets the necessary criteria, comprehensive network testing is essential. To obtain a realistic assessment of how the network will perform for end-users in critical situations, testing should ideally be conducted using the actual Agnet application and the same devices used by real users.?

You can now test network accessibility and Push-to-Talk (PTT) services using Agnet with Keysight’s Application Testing Automation (ATA) method available in Nemo Outdoor. With Nemo Intelligent Device Interface (NIDI), also POLQA 3 voice quality testing is possible. Nemo Outdoor supports measurements with Crosscall’s rugged devices Core-X5 and Core-Z5 (LTE band 68 for public safety) as well as Nokia XR20 and Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro.

Measure 5G Networks in 3D with a Drone

The ability to measure wireless networks at different altitudes has increased with 5G. Different use cases that are driving the need to measure networks with a drone in 3D include the verification of network coverage on drone flight paths and the verification of vertical beam coverage with evolving 5G beamforming technology and features.?Drones can also be used in private network testing in locations such as sea ports, where the measurements need to cover large outdoor areas not accessible by conventional drive tests.

Beamforming is a key technology in 5G that enhances signal quality, improves coverage, increases network capacity, and supports higher data rates. Measuring and visualizing beamforming is essential to ensure that the promised benefits of 5G are being realized.?

The Keysight Nemo solution for different 5G network measurement needs includes Nemo Handy, mounted on a drone for measurements, and 3D Visualizer, an add-on in Nemo Analyze, for the visualization of the results in 3D.

The small and lightweight Nemo Handy is an ideal tool to be mounted on a drone. As a full, smartphone-based measurement tool, it provides all relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) as well as full measurement functionality to pinpoint the root cause for different mobile network issues. Nemo Handy enables accurate, barometer-based altitude measurements in 3D.

The measurement results can be visualized in 3D with Keysight’s unique 3D Visualizer. With 3D Visualizer, you can visualize 5G test data (mobile or scanner) with dedicated 3D parameters as well as 5G beams on top of 3D models.?

Real-time remote monitoring is crucial in drone measurements, as it facilitates prompt reactions and the ability to adjust flight routes without delays. Nemo measurement log files have the smallest size in the market, ensuring fast, seamless, and reliable real-time over-the-air (OTA) log file uploads and post-processing.

Simplifying Network Assurance with Pre-Integrated Assurance Tools

Industrial System Integrators face the challenge of ensuring not only Private 5G network reliability but also the seamless integration of Private 5G with existing networks. Keysight has partnered with Ataya to provide an integrated joint solution to simplify network assurance with pre-integrated assurance tools.

Leveraging Keysight's Hawkeye and Ataya's Harmony, you can confidently deploy a Private 5G network that integrates with established Wi-Fi and wired networks. Additionally, you can measure and ensure high performance across the entire mixed access network through simplified, single-click assurance testing.

Jagadeesh Dantuluri, GM Network Wireless Solutions and Private Networks at Keysight Technologies:

Ataya’s innovation in establishing Universal Connectivity is a major step forward in enabling networks to create viable and deployable Industry 4.0 solutions. Integration with Hawkeye makes it even easier for system integrators, managed solution providers, and end customers to verify 5G and multi-access networks without incurring any overhead and training burden.

Keysight’s Hawkeye agents are pre-integrated with Ataya Harmony, and that allows system integrators to easily create connections between various subsystems thus verifying the QoE across various network nodes on the fly. Pre-integration between Keysight and Ataya includes hosting of Keysight Hawkeye nodes on the Harmony server platform, simplifying network assurance both at deployment and for ongoing monitoring.

Learn more: https://www.ataya.io/solutionKeysight

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