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5G Network Emulator Basics

5g network emulator rf test equipment protocol

This application note provides a fundamental overview of 5G Network Emulators, with a specific mention of the 5G Network Emulator offered by Keysight Technologies Inc.

What is a 5G Network Emulator?

A 5G Network Emulator is a system designed to mimic the functions of a 5G network. These emulators, comprised of both hardware and software, allow developers to simulate the network-side behavior of the 5G standard. They’re essential tools for 5G device manufacturers who need to prototype and develop 5GTF chipsets and devices.

Essentially, a 5G network emulator combines the functionalities of both a 5G protocol tool and a 5G RF DVT (Design Validation and Test) tool.

5G network emulator

Figure 1: Typical setup used for 5G UE testing.

As seen in Figure 1, a typical setup for testing a 5G User Equipment (UE) involves a 5G RF DVT toolset integrated with a TAP (Test Automation Platform). The TAP software facilitates the creation of test cases that adhere to RF and RRM (Radio Resource Management) specifications.

5G RF DVT Toolset

Figure 2: Typical screen used to configure various 5G test cases.

Figure 2 illustrates a typical user interface for configuring various 5G test cases within the DVT toolset.

Keysight Technologies’ 5G Network Emulator

The following information is courtesy of Keysight Technologies, Inc.

Keysight, in partnership with IXIA, provides testbeds for evaluating 5G NR (New Radio) devices based on the latest 3GPP NR standards. Here’s a breakdown of the key features and specifications of Keysight’s 5G Network Emulator:

  • UXM 5G Based: The toolset is built on the UXM 5G platform, making it suitable for testing 5G devices across different development stages, from design verification to pre-conformance testing.

  • Comprehensive Test Suite: The tool includes a library of test steps, methods, and cases, enabling users to create customized test vectors aligned with 5G RF/RRM layer test specifications.

  • Frequency Band Support: The emulator supports testing in a wide range of frequency bands, including sub-6GHz and mmWave bands (e.g., 28 GHz).