Head acoustics and Rohde & Schwarz have successfully verified voice services over 5G NR (VoNR)
The test system uses the latest generation of the R&S CMX500 wideband radio communication tester, combined with the labCORE hardware platform from Head acoustics and their ACQUA measurement and analysis software. This setup allows simulation of a voice connection in both 5G (VoNR) and 4G (VoLTE) networks. This enables manufacturers of 5G capable telecommunications devices to test the voice quality of their devices at an early stage before market introduction.
Based on the R&S wideband radio communication tester for 2G/3G/LTE and WLAN, the new test scope allows 5G NR devices to be tested in both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) TDD and FDD mode. The R&S CMX500 supports the sub6 GHz (FR1) and mmWave (FR2) frequency bands and provides all required technologies for VoLTE and VoNR calls in both SA and NSA mode.
Mobile phones under test can register with the integrated IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server of the R&S CMX500 platform via the simulated 4G or 5G mobile network, depending on the use case. The labCORE system is connected through wired Ethernet using the integrated IP forward mode of the IMS server, specifically developed for this, allowing users to forward the voice data of a call established with the R&S CMX500 directly to the labCORE system for detailed voice quality analysis. In this mode, the system fully supports the 5G speech codecs EVS (Enhanced Voice Service), AMR-WB and AMR-NB. Using the test suite of the ACQUA measurement and analysis software developed by Head acoustics for TS 26 131-32, the system fully covers all significant acoustic requirements. This enables manufacturers of 5G capable telecommunications devices to test the voice quality of their devices at an early stage and prepare for rollout of 5G voice services.