VIAVI
Solutions Offers Full RAN to Core
Network Testing Capabilities
VIAVI RANtoCore™ accelerates 4G, 4.5G
and 5G networks with ready-to-market RAN, edge and core network test solution
VIAVI
Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) announced
that its Wireless Business Unit, formerly the network validation division of
Cobham Wireless, is now able to offer RANtoCore™, a full
suite of end-to-end mobile network testing capabilities. The solution can
validate mobile network performance from the radio access network (RAN) to the
core, via the mobile edge. It offers operators and network equipment
manufacturers (NEMs) the most realistic test environment for optimizing 4G and
4.5G, while enabling the development of 5G technology and the shift of core
functionality to the network edge.
The VIAVI RANtoCore solution combines the VIAVI TM500 and the
VIAVI TeraVM, from the recently acquired wireless test
and measurement business of Cobham plc.
The VIAVI TM500 offers a comprehensive and scalable 3GPP-compliant network test
system for base station development. It simulates end-user and IoT devices,
stress-testing the impact of RAN traffic on the core network. The VIAVI TeraVM,
meanwhile, can test and validate virtualized network functions and the virtual
evolved packet core (vEPC), by providing scalable real-world application,
secure RAN and cybersecurity attack emulation. When used together, forming the
VIAVI RANtoCore, operators can benefit from a complete end-to-end network testing
solution.
Evan Gray, Vice President, Business Development, VIAVI Solutions said,
“Operator networks are going through a rapid architectural change with the
introduction of 4.5G and 5G technology in order to improve network performance
and support new critical applications, such as driverless vehicles and smart
city services. Supporting these new applications requires operators to optimize
the air interface and move their core processing power to the edge of the
network. This addresses the need for increased data speeds for gigabit
handsets, cost-effective scaling and securitization of the IoT, and reduced
latency for critical applications.
“VIAVI has been working with operators as they undergo these
network changes, offering a RAN to Core testing solution that validates the
impact of real-life conditions on the entire network. It measures the quality
of end-user experience for data applications whilst
ensuring robust network security,” said Gray.
The VIAVI RANtoCore solution will enable the development and
commercialization of a huge range of use cases. For the connected automotive
environment, for example, the solution will validate networks to ensure that a
connected car is receiving and prioritizing safety-critical comms between the
car’s operating system and sensors in the external environment. At the same
time, the network will be able to continuously support but de-prioritize numerous additional traffic streams – such as
video-over-IP from a passenger streaming video content on their smartphone.
“With our suite of testing solutions, VIAVI has assumed a driving
role in the 5G ecosystem. It is working alongside operators and NEMs as they
evolve and future-proof their networks and introduce new approaches including
network slicing and multi-access edge computing, in order to support the
massive connectivity requirements of the IoT,” finished Gray.
Source: VIAVI Solutions media announcement
