Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) and MediaTek recently announced the successful completion of 5G New Radio (NR) and 5G reduced capability (RedCap) interoperability development testing (IODT) based on the 3GPP Release 17 (Rel-17) standard. This milestone was achieved through rigorous testing of MediaTek’s latest 5G modem technologies using Keysight’s 5G Network Emulation Solutions.
IODT plays a crucial role in validating equipment utilizing new 5G specifications, determining the ability of a base station and device to establish and sustain a 5G communication link under defined test conditions.
The RedCap interoperability testing conducted by Keysight and MediaTek specifically validated several aspects of the MediaTek 5G modem technologies. These included early identification, bandwidth part (BWP) definition, user equipment (UE) capability, radio resource management (RRM) relaxation, network control device-synchronization signal block (NCD-SSB), sounding reference signal (SRS) enhancement, extended discontinuous reception (eDRX), and physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for frequency hopping. The 5G NR IODT confirmed the chipset’s support for Rel-17 features, such as power saving, small data transmission, and NR coverage enhancement.
Dr. Ho-Chi Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication System and Partnerships at MediaTek, emphasized MediaTek’s dedication to driving advancements in 5G NR Rel-17 and RedCap technology. Hwang highlighted the collaboration with Keysight as instrumental in developing cutting-edge 5G modem platforms, fostering a robust ecosystem of 5G device innovators.
Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight’s Wireless Test group, echoed the sentiment, noting the joint effort’s role in accelerating 5G NR Release 17 deployment. Cao highlighted the significance of enabling device manufacturers to conduct interoperability tests using innovative testing solutions. The aim is to offer flexible deployment solutions for customers gearing up for the commercial introduction of 5G NR and RedCap devices into the market.
