The end-user quality of experience (QoE) of a mobile network is one the main factors influencing customer churn and has a direct impact on the business of mobile network operators (MNOs). Rohde & Schwarz, global market leader in network benchmarking, introduces its next generation benchmarking solution which allows MNOs to master increasing challenges related to technological innovation as well as cost, time and competitive pressure. The new solution reduces complexity and helps MNOs make decisions on systematic and end-user centric network improvements.

Driven by overall technological evolution in telecommunications, the entire mobile network ecosystem is becoming more and more dynamic and complex to orchestrate for MNOs. Versatile network technologies up-to 5G, infrastructures and new architectures like Open RAN co-exist, and the ongoing deployment of private networks adds further to the complexity. Information and data about mobile networks relevant today can be obsolete tomorrow. Therefore, it is essential for MNOs to efficiently collect and process data in a very short time to maximize benefits. To this end, Rohde & Schwarz is launching the next generation benchmarking solution, featuring the data collection platform Benchmarker 3 and a set of unique features, which allow MNOs to reduce complexity and costs while gaining more value out of their collected data.

High data quality for reliable results
Since the beginnings of cellular technology, Rohde & Schwarz has been a pioneer and market leader for RF and QoE-centric test solutions. Now, the company is introducing Benchmarker 3, the third generation of its own benchmarking hardware, and the technological core of the data collection equipment. The new hardware is designed and manufactured by Rohde & Schwarz experts, bringing together decades of expertise in hardware product engineering and in-house production, close collaboration with customers and thorough experience from multi-national network benchmarking projects. It offers a reduced footprint for easier installation and fewer computing components for the same number of measurement devices making it easier to configure and maintain. New airflow management enables temperature control also for devices that tend to overheat when handling high 5G data throughputs. Its modular concept enables an easy expansion that can be applied to new installations as well as existing Benchmarker II systems.

All these factors are combined in the new Benchmarker 3 and ensure uniform, stable conditions and highly reliable operation when performing large-scale network benchmarking measurement campaigns. In summary, the data collection platform is more performant, has a more compact design, is lighter, consumes less power and is fully backward compatible with the components of its forerunner Benchmarker II.

Smart campaign automation to reduce OPEX
In order to reduce operational costs (OPEX) and to simplify tiresome recurring tasks, Rohde & Schwarz offers a set of state-of-the-art features for remote controlling and monitoring the test system as well as cloud-based configurations. Along with the launch of Benchmarker 3, Rohde & Schwarz is introducing a new smart end-to-end campaign automation management. It automates multiple background tasks during the entire workflow of a network benchmarking measurement campaign and it orchestrates data collection, fleet management and post processing.

More value from data in shorter time
Extracting fast and relevant insights from the collected data is key, especially because more dynamic and versatile network environments require shorter reaction times. In order to address this, Rohde & Schwarz has enhanced its proven analytics suite SmartAnalytics with new features. These include the generation of automated insights and reports, more efficient management of big data from continuous benchmarking campaigns combined with new special data structures for long-term and historical trend analysis as well as smart end-to-end campaign automation. In combination with machine learning assisted test use cases, SmartAnalytics is now more performant, extracts more value out of collected data in shorter time than ever before.

Harmonized test methodology reducing complexity
Rohde & Schwarz network benchmarking solutions support the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) harmonized test methodology documented in TR 103 559. The integrative scoring methodology substantially reduces complexity as it indicates the network performance from terabytes of aggregated data into a single performance score per operator. Moreover, SmartAnalytics offers its users a seamless direct drill down feature, enabling them to navigate in a few clicks from the high-level view to the application view, down to lower layers, including the physical network layer. This way, users can retrieve single test samples out of terabytes of data, identify root-causes of failed test samples and understand how these impact QoE.

The Rohde & Schwarz network benchmarking solutions empower mobile network operators and regulatory authorities across the globe to transparently and systematically assess and increase the quality and performance of mobile networks, in order to enhance the perceived quality for end-users. Rohde & Schwarz is showcasing its next generation network benchmarking solution including the new Benchmarker 3 at MWC2023 in Barcelona at booth 5A80 from February 27 to March 2, 2023. For further information on mobile network benchmarking solutions, visit: www.rohde-schwarz.com/mnt/network-benchmarking