Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek collaborate on mmWave OTA measurement technologies

09/14/2018

Rohde & Schwarz, a leading manufacturer of test & measurement solutions and communications and broadcasting equipment, announced a strategic collaboration with MediaTek to accelerate the development of mmWave OTA measurement technologies.

MediaTek, as a leading mobile platform provider, has placed major investments in 5G and is among the key global brands readying solutions for the launch for the upcoming 5G commercial rollout. To successfully launch 5G, several key technology developments need to be accelerated, some of which are massive MIMO antenna arrays, algorithm design, and Over-the-Air (OTA) testing.

In 5G mmWave communication systems, there are some challenges to be solved to ensure seamless user experiences. For example, high path loss and shadowing effects could significantly decrease signal strength. To improve signals, MediaTek is working on chipset development that includes beamforming antenna array design technology. To ensure quality and the characteristics of each beam, it is important to have a testing environment to measure multiple beam streams precisely and a reliable and speedy chamber is required. In this joint cooperation, MediaTek leverages Rohde & Schwarz OTA solution to improve measurement technology.

Rohde & Schwarz provides a complete 5G mmWave OTA turnkey solution based on the R&S ATS series to perform the testing. The R&S ATS series consists of a rack-sized shielded RF test chamber on castors, suitable mounts for test objects and sensors, and a wideband measurement antenna, which covers the whole frequency range. Using the associated test and measurement equipment and the antenna measurement software, radiation patterns of 5G antenna arrays can be measured extremely precisely in just a few minutes.

A positioning laser supports precise orientation of test objects. All this makes the R&S ATS series antenna test system the ideal test environment for fast and accurate repeatable measurements. The R&S SMW200A and R&S FSW43 provide up to 40 GHz operating frequency and 2 GHz modulation/demodulation bandwidth. The R&S ZVA40 vector network analyzer supports up to four independence signal sources for the four-port configuration allowing parallel signal output. The R&S ZVA series is an ideal choice for demanding measurements tasks in the lab and in production. Together, these advanced instruments ensure the ideal test platform for fast and accurate repeatable measurements, from R&D through to deployment.

Alexander Pabst, Vice President Systems & Projects at Rohde & Schwarz, says: “We are pleased to cooperate with MediaTek for OTA development to ensure 5G product testing requirements. Rohde & Schwarz is committed to accompany the evolution path from 4G to 5G with innovative test and measurement solutions.”

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