Whether you are mobile network operator (MNO) with a dedicated field force or a wireless contractor providing installation and maintenance services to MNOs, you need trained field technicians with the right test equipment to verify 4G LTE and 5G cell site performance for cell site deployments or to troubleshoot and resolve problems quickly when they occur.
MNOs are building highly reliable, scalable networks that support escalating customer demand for new 5G mobile data services. But building those networks on time and on budget is challenging. More than ever, field technicians must be knowledgeable and skilled at installing and verifying a myriad of technologies including fiber, Ethernet, CPRI/eCPRI and RF because they are being asked to do more, faster and at less cost.
That versatility of skills is critical when a mobile network experiences an outage. Such outages could be the consequence of any number of causes from radios and antennas to the fiber optic cables connecting the cell site components, or the fiber backhaul that connects the cell site to the core. All you know is the system is down, customers are out of service and the MNO is losing money.
In situations like this, you want your field technicians to be equipped with the most advanced test systems available so they can identify the root cause of the problem accurately and resolve that fault quickly.
That test system is the FTB 5GPro, according to EXFO.
“Much more than a specialized test set, the FTB 5GPro is versatile solution that enables field technicians to efficiently test fiber, RF, and the transport network—from the core to the tower and all the way to the subscriber,” says Danny Sleiman, Business Development Manager – Global 5G Strategy, EXFO.
The FTB 5GPro is a handheld multi-functional test platform that features a suite of 4G LTE and 5G test capabilities in a single, compact form factor and an innovative, easy-to-use interface, he explains. It incorporates a series of interchangeable test modules designed to support present-day testing requirements and also keep pace with evolving technologies.
This modular design allows field technicians to systematically test and validate all the RF and fiber operating parameters at every 4G LTE and 5G cell site, either for a new installation or for troubleshooting a fault at the site without the hassle of carrying multiple test instruments especially if working at heights above ground level.
“With the FTB 5GPro, field technicians can ensure the work is done right the first time from test to reporting, thereby increasing deployment and restoration efficiency. At the same time, they can demonstrate that their work meets their MNO customer expectations of quality, time and budget,” says Sleiman.
5G test solutions
FTB 5GPro test solution includes “automated, easy-to-use test functions,” says EXFO.
- Fiber connector inspection: Field experience has shown that dirty and/or damaged fiber connectors are one of the most common causes of optical network problems, particularly during the installation phase. In today’s environment, MNOs are under pressure to reduce operating expenses while deploying cell sites at an increasingly rapid pace. Ensuring that connector surfaces are clean and free of contaminants from the start can eliminate poor performance at the cell sites and potentially avoid costly network failures.
- Fiber link characterization: Functioning as an OTDR with EXFO’s Intelligent Optical Link Mapper (iOLM), this module provides automated, expert-level singlemode and multimode fiber testing that eliminates the need to manually configure parameters or analyze and interpret multiple complex OTDR traces. The iOLM feature detects issues on the fiber span, such as macrobends, misaligned splices, bad connectors and fiber breaks that could potentially impact the total budget loss.
- Radio validation: CPRI and eCPRI links (up to 100G) at the BBU/DU are validated to confirm the functionality of radio units (RRH/RU). This quick validation process ensures that radios are correctly installed and are ready to go live. Additionally, when troubleshooting defective radios, the CPRI/eCPRI test solution serves as a sanity check, ensuring that radios are powered and SFP/QSFPs are correctly installed.
- PIM and RF interference analysis over CPRI: EXFO’s intelligent RF-over-CPRI (iORF) application features a one-button, fully automated testing approach that provides complete analysis of the RF spectrum with an “easy-to-understand, pass-or-fail verdict,” says EXFO. Its automated analysis requires no configuration and identifies internal or external passive intermodulation (PIM) in less than 5 minutes.
- RF spectrum analyzer: Provides visibility into 4G LTE and 5G RF propagation in FR1 (450 MHz to 6 GHz) or FR2 (24.25 GHz to 40 GHz) frequency bands with the same device. The test solution includes TDD gated sweep and 5G SSB blind scanner.
- Timing and synchronization: This module validates site timing and synchronization over the air and over fiber (1588-PTP, SyncE and Wander/TE), using a “highly accurate” global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver capable of delivering accuracy down to the nanosecond and ensuring reliable measurements.
- Multi-protocol and Ethernet testing: Validates Ethernet performance up to 400G with EXFO’s EtherSAM (Ethernet service activation methodology), based on the ITU-T Y.1564 standard, and supports multiple technologies including Fibre Channel, CPRI, eCPRI, and more.
- Transceiver validation: The iOptics test application efficiently evaluates the proper operation of multiple transceiver interfaces from 1G to 400G.
Training
The EXFO-certified contractor (ECC) program is designed to train contractors across the U.S. on key technical aspects of fiber-optic networks. It also covers the use of EXFO solutions, enabling faster and more confident network transformations. The ECC program offers training sessions that will provide field crews with the expertise needed to operate any test equipment along with the knowledge to address any troubleshooting issues.
About EXFO
EXFO is headquartered in Québec City, Québec, and has its U.S. regional operations based in Richardson, TX. The company works closely with mobile network operators, contractors, and equipment manufacturers to design innovative solutions that improve test processes—from the fiber to the antenna and beyond. EXFO improves test processes through the use of automated, flexible test tools that are scalable by design and fit for purpose, delivering accurate test results across the network construction, activation, and maintenance stages.
To learn more about the FTB 5GPro or for more information about EXFO’s comprehensive test equipment portfolio, contact EXFO at: https://www.exfo.com/FTB5GPro.
Reader Interactions