Keysight First to Submit 3GPP Release 16 Dual Connectivity Protocol Test Case Verifications for 5G New Radio Non-Standalone Devices

Test cases enable protocol conformance testing for devices supporting the use of 4G and 5G network resources at the same time
Keysight solution accelerates verification of designs supporting 3GPP Release-16 features by device vendors
Verifications will accelerate deployment of 5G innovations in smart factories, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities

SANTA ROSA, Calif. December 19, 2022

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced that the Keysight S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset was used to submit the first verifications of 3GPP Release 16 (Rel-16) protocol conformance test cases for devices supporting the 5G E-UTRAN New Radio (NR) – Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) configuration for 5G NR non-standalone devices. The EN-DC configuration enables operators to use 4G (E-UTRAN) and 5G (NR) network resources simultaneously.

The test cases, submitted for verification to 3GPP RAN5, allow chipset and device vendors to verify functionality related to the Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) and NR Carrier Aggregation (CA) Enhancements defined in Rel-16. Implementing Rel-16 improves 5G network coverage, capacity, security, and latency, as well as 5G device power consumption, mobility, and reliability. The industry milestone verifications ensure protocol compatibility against the Rel-16 standards and accelerate the verification of designs supporting Rel-16 features by device vendors.

Keysight’s S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset enables users to verify the protocol signaling implementation of a design and confirm compliance to 3GPP 5G specifications. This toolset is part of the Keysight’s suite of 5G Network Emulation Solutions, which uses the UXM 5G Wireless Test Platform to address the device development workflow from early design through acceptance and manufacturing.

Muthu Kumaran, General Manager of Keysight’s Device Validation Solutions business, said: “The industry needs this early availability of 3GPP 5G NR test cases for Rel-16 to accelerate the introduction of designs for smart factory, autonomous vehicle, and smart city applications. Keysight continues to reinforce technical leadership by being first to submit test cases to 3GPP RAN5, a working group within 3GPP that is focused on the specification of conformance testing at the radio interface for user equipment.”

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About Keysight Technologies

Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight’s dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. Keysight generated revenues of $5.4B in fiscal year 2022. For more information about Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS), visit us at www.keysight.com.