Anritsu and Spirent Communications Collaborate to Provide Open RAN Test Solutions

Anritsu Corporation (President Hirokazu Hamada) has announced a strategic partnership with Spirent Communications in Open RAN^*1 test solutions. This collaboration will play a key role in helping equipment vendors, carriers, system integrators, cloud service providers, and others to configure an Open RAN ecosystem by measuring wireless RAN O-RU^*2 characteristics, fronthaul Conformance Tests and End-to-End tests connecting O-DU^*3, O-CU^*4, and Core. The Open RAN is the concept specifying open standards for network interfaces to expand services and reduce costs by supporting multivendor equipment sourcing as well as to enable intelligence, helping drive growth and creating new business opportunities. Mobile network operators and equipment vendors are testing and introducing Open RAN led by the O-RAN ALLIANCE^*5 and other promotion groups.

Outline of Spirent and Anritsu Test Solution

Spirent Communications provides simulating/emulating environment for all network components and interfaces on the Landslide and Wireless Test Series to solve Open RAN interconnectivity challenges. Anritsu offers a line of solutions for precision time synchronization as well as test equipment for O-RU TRx characteristics, and also introduces its new O-RU test solution combining O-DU and front haul emulation. This collaboration with Spirent offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions covering both network and wireless testing for suppliers and carriers deploying Open RAN.

The Anritsu and Spirent video demonstration explaining their O-RU test solutions will be played MWC 2023, starting 27 February 2023, in Barcelona, Spain, including MWC 2023 Virtual Exhibition.

Anritsu will contribute to the success of diversified and advanced 5G mobile networks through future collaborative business partnerships.

Technical Terms

^*1 Open RAN

Term for Radio Access Network configuration using open interface specifications for all communications equipment vendors

^*2 O-RU

Abbreviation for O-RAN Radio Unit complying with O-RAN fronthaul specifications

^*3 O-DU

Abbreviation for O-RAN Distributed Unit complying with O-RAN mid-haul and fronthaul specifications and supporting RLC, MAC, and High-PHY wireless UE functions

^*4 O-CU

Abbreviation for O-RAN Centralized Unit controlling O-RU/O-DU, mediating with Core network, etc.

^*5 O-RAN

Abbreviation for O-RAN ALLIANCE organization and term expressing specifications determined by O-RAN ALLIANCE