Anritsu Corporation has obtained the world’s first PTCRB certification for Three Downlink Carrier Aggregation (3DL CA) RRM tests forming a key LTE-Advanced technology and measured by the company’s LTE-Advanced RF Conformance Test System ME7873L. This certification gives Anritsu the world lead in PTCRB-certified test cases.

The Carrier Aggregation (CA) technology supporting high-speed data communications is defined by 3GPP Release 10 and operators worldwide are already rolling out 2DL CA services combining two downlink signals. However, to increase speeds even further, the 3DL CA technology combining three downlink signals is being introduced this year in Japan, N. America and S. Korea, with other countries planning services soon.

To help play a role in the start of 3DL CA services, Anritsu has focused its efforts on obtaining GCF and PTCRB certifications. The company’s LTE-Advanced RF Conformance Test System ME7873LA obtained the world’s first PTCRB certification for 3DL CA RF tests in September 2015, and April 2016 marked the award of GCF approval for more than 80% of 3DL CA conformance test cases. This June award from PTCRB marks the start of 3DL CA RRM tests.

Commercial LTE-Advanced mobile terminals are certified by GCF and PTCRB for worldwide use; as a condition for starting certification by GCF, more than 80% of test cases used for LTE-Advanced terminal Carrier Aggregation standards conformance testing must have obtained GCF certification. Moreover, PTCRB requires coverage of more than 50% of approved test cases as a condition for test houses performing terminal certification.

With the world lead in GCF/PTCRB test-case certifications, Anritsu’s LTE-Advanced RF Conformance Test System ME7873LA meets both these requirements with a single test set.  The world-beating ME7873LA test system not only helps UE makers and carriers with early deployment of 3DL CA services, it also contributes to better product quality.  Anritsu is also focusing efforts on future development of LTE-Advanced conformance test systems to help further development and growth of mobile broadband services.

LTE-Advanced RF Conformance Test System ME7873LA

The ME7873LA is a test platform for verifying compliance of LTE/LTE-Advanced mobile-terminal RF TRX characteristics, performance, etc., with 3GPP standards. It is used by mobile operators worldwide, especially in Japan, N. America, and Asia, as an acceptance inspection test system.