3GPP tester goes sub-6GHz for early 5G

Rohde & Schwarz has a test instrument which can be used for validation of radio devices using the sub-6GHz 3GPP 5G new radio (NR) protocol.

CMW100 communications test set

3GPP’s 5G NR protocol will ultimately support frequency ranges up to 52.6GHz, but initial 5G designs will use frequencies below 6GHz with a focus on 3.5GHz.

For these sub-6 GHz carrier frequencies, 3GPP currently discusses a maximum bandwidth per component carrier of 100MHz.

The firm’s CMW100 communications manufacturing test set has a measurement bandwidth of 160MHz which means it is capable of testing initial 5G NR sub-6 GHz wireless devices.

Anton Messmer, vice president mobile radio testers at Rohde & Schwarz, writes:

“The evolution to 5G networks will employ a wider range of spectrum bands. Utilizing spectrum bands below 6GHz is the decisive aspect of enabling deployments with reliable network coverage.”

It can also be used for testing LTE, WLAN and Bluetooth devices as well as 5G NR sub-6GHz.