TM500 network test system enables 4G IoT support
Industry-standard Cobham Wireless network tester supports
device emulation for Internet of Things validation
STEVENAGE, UK – Cobham Wireless, a global leader in the provision of advanced wireless coverage and mobile communication systems, has announced that the next generation of the TM500 network test system has the capability to emulate tens of thousands of Machine Type Communications (MTC) devices, sometimes known as M2M devices. This enables network operators and infrastructure vendors to validate 4G cellular network performance in preparation for deploying Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
The next-generation TM500 can evaluate the effect on the network of connecting large numbers of low-power, low-complexity UEs (user equipment) for MTC applications. Non-speech devices that will use MTC will include smart meters, security cameras, environmental sensors, and a whole range of industrial and commercial sensors and controllers. Unlike mobile phones, MTC devices need to have an extended battery life of up to ten years, low unit cost, and a low cost of deployment. Using cellular networks to connect MTC devices offers the benefit of wide area coverage on an existing stable network.
“The main driver for MTC is the widely-publicised forecast that LTE networks will be used to support the development of the Internet of Things,” said Phil Medd, Senior Technical Product Manager at Cobham Wireless. “With billions of non-speech devices expected to be connected over the next 10 years, it is crucial that network operators can optimise the current 4G networks to connect them, rather than needing to wait for the promised 5G capacity increase.”
The Cobham Wireless TM500 is already the industry standard network test platform, used by all the major infrastructure vendors worldwide to validate their networks under realistic usage and loading scenarios. By continuing to innovate when it comes to new 3GPP features, the TM500 continues to stay ahead of market need, empowering network operators to prove network performance under real-life usage conditions before the availability of actual device hardware.
A live demonstration of the next-generation TM500 network tester and a prototype IoT traffic generator for 5G were both recently showcased at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
About LTE Cat-0 and LTE-M (eMTC)
LTE Cat-0 is a protocol that was introduced at 3GPP Release 12, and makes provision for simplified UEs for MTC applications. Cat-0 reduces the complexity of the UE and modem by using a single receiver RF path, with a single antenna and reduced throughput down to 1 Mbps, as well as a smaller transport block size and mandatory half-duplex mode support. It also has a power saving mode (PSM) that enables the UE to enter a low power state for up to approximately 12.9 days, during which it cannot be paged by the network.
With Release 13 a new category has been introduced that is more precisely optimised for the requirements of MTC. LTE-M, which is also known as Cat-M or eMTC, allows the Bill of Materials (BoM) to be lowered due to the use of a single receive chain and reduced transport block size. Operating in half-duplex mode, the standard channel bandwidth is reduced to 1.4 MHz, carrying 6 physical resource blocks (PRBs), which can be used within the system bandwidth of an existing network. Multiple blocks of 6PRBs can be deployed across the system bandwidth, so for example a 20MHz LTE band can support up to 16 sets of Cat-M channels, thus increasing the capacity of the network.
Cat-M also offers reduced power consumption, allowing the device designer a choice between implementing a PSM or an extended DRX (eDRX) cycle, which allows a device in idle mode to deactivate its receiver for longer than the current 2.56 seconds, while still reachable by the network.
Coverage enhancements have also been introduced in Cat M. These can extend the range of a cell or improve signal penetration into buildings, as many MTC devices will be located indoors. There are two coverage enhancement modes, CE Mode A and CE Mode B, providing up to 15dB enhancement using a variety of techniques such as subframe repetition, frequency hopping, boosting the reference symbols, and enhanced PRACH (Physical Random Access Channel), as well as increasing transmit power.
About Cobham Wireless
Delivering state-of-the-art wireless and connectivity solutions that give our customers a competitive edge.
We are global leaders in the provision of advanced wireless coverage and mobile communications systems, producing innovative, cost-effective solutions that address market requirements for improved connectivity, greater capacity and better quality of experience.
Our intelligent digital Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), along with our advanced network validation tools for mobile and IP networks, will help propel your network to the next generation.
For more information visit www.cobham.com/wireless
About Cobham
The most important thing we build is trust. We protect lives and livelihoods with our differentiated technology and know-how, operating with a deep insight into customer needs and agility. Our innovative range of technologies and services solve challenging problems in harsh environments across commercial, defence and security markets, from deep space to the depths of the ocean, specialising in meeting the growing demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth.
We employ more than 12,000 people on five continents, and have customers and partners in over 100 countries, with market leading positions in: wireless, audio, video and data communications, including satellite communications; defence electronics; air-to-air refuelling; aviation services; life support and mission equipment.
