Build, rollout, and operate a reliable and high-performance 5G network

Test tools to ensure the successful deployment and operation of 5G networks

5G monetization and customer experience rely on ensuring that 5G rollouts are done right since day zero. 5G introduces a new radio technology and new frequency bands, making smartphones even more complex with the first 5G devices supporting Dual Connectivity with both LTE and 5G. Furthermore, 5G networks are designed for virtualization to enable new features such as network slicing, that bring increased complexity and challenges in isolating service issues, especially in multi-vendor environments.

Mobileum’s SITE active end-to-end testing platform offers effective 5G Testing methods with Smartphones, Wireless Interfaces, and Core Network probes to deliver all the insights related to 5G service performance and quality of experience. Designed and optimized to test, monitor, troubleshoot, and benchmark 5G services 24/7 with scalability to evolve as 5G technology moves forward, our platform enables operators to achieve the highest data rates, stricter latency requirements, and extreme reliability.

A comprehensive testing suite for 5G networks and services

Mobileum offers a comprehensive portfolio for end-to-end performance verification of any 5G network environment, ranging from 5G non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) to 5G fixed wireless access and 5G network slicing. We bring all of these factors together to allow our customers to get their share of the 5G market and ensure long-term commitment to their customers.

Using our unified approach to 5G testing, validation teams can create automated, reusable tests quickly and efficiently. Automation frees these teams to focus on creating comprehensive test suites, rather than performing manual tests.

What SITE’s 5G Service Assurance Solution offers

Benefits and Value of SITE‘s 5G Testing Solution

Benefits and Value of SITE‘s 5G Testing Solution – Continued   

Smartphone based testing for 5G

Quality of Experience is key for the success of 5G. Mobileum’s Smartphone Experience solution supports operators with the critical task of ensuring 5G performance on flagship 5G smartphones. Our solution allows users to easily create and automate 5G tests on devices and get insights into the subscriber experience.

Key benefits of Mobileum’s Smartphone Testing for 5G: 

❖ Fastest method to ensure 5G service performance
❖ 5G throughput and latency validation
❖ Basic services assurance, i.e. voice
❖ EPS fallback performance measurement for voice services from NR to LTE
❖ Validation of key features, such as dual connectivity
❖ Enhanced audio detection for audio availability, sample length, and bandwidth
❖ SIM Mutiplexing to test different SIM profiles or for benchmarking

5G Wireless Module Testing

Mobileum’s 5G wireless module is a robust and scalable solution to continuously test, monitor and benchmark 5G QoS for Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) deployments. Testing using wireless modules allows operators to pro-actively monitor 5G services and determine the performance of their 5G network in the key markets.

Our solution supports 5G NSA, 5G SA and LTE using various frequency bands to generate an extensive set of standard and additional 5G service KPIs, such as 5G radio, band, and bandwidth, network type, and restrict DCNR.

Mobileum’s 5G wireless test cases include:

❖ Basic IP: DNS, FTP DL, HTTP Browser/PS, ping, traceroute, etc.
❖ Ookla speedtest using the official Ookla client
❖ Data capacity and IP link metrics: HTTP / FTP DL multiple TCP  capacity, iperf, traceroute MTR
❖ YouTube
❖ WebBrowsing 20

5G Core Network Testing

Mobileum’s Core Network Testing validates baseline 5G network performance over S1 (NSA), N2 or N3 interfaces using high frequency testing without the influence from radio conditions. It emulates control and user plane and has been designed for fast and flexible deployment in virtualization environments.

Our 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) testing uses eNB and gNB emulation over S1-U and S1C to verify 5G NSA service availability and performance, as well as data and VoLTE performance. Our 5G Standalone (SA) testing uses gNB emulation over N2/N3 interfaces and verifies 5G SA service availability and performance, and both data and voice (VoLTE/VoNR) performance.

Mobileum’ core network probes can be virtualized for Network Function Virtualization (NFV) environments (e.g. VMWare, OpenStack). Support for virtualization enables flexible deployments and allows operators to ensure virtualization has no impact on service performance.

Testing for 5G network slicing

Network Slicing is a key feature of 5G that utilizes virtualization capabilities to create logical networks with different performance characteristics. This allows operators to address various 5G use cases using the same underlying infrastructure. However, it also means that SLAs must be monitored and assured for each slice.

Mobileum’s 5G Slicing validation and monitoring solution can test both RAN and CN slicing at all stages, from slice instantiation, through its operation and up to decommissioning. It provides performance score cards per network slice, together with the ability to drill down to traces and detailed KPIs for analysis and troubleshooting. Pro-active alarming ensures that any degradation in slice performance is picked up before impact on service and business.

Automation supporting CI/CD/CT

Mobileum’s Automation Framework (AF) can work standalone and be easily integrated into larger automation processes such as CI/CD/CT pipelines, where the addition of a continuous testing component is vital. To provide even more flexibility, AF works in tandem with the proven Mobileum's SITE testing scenarios using RESTful APIs that allow users to automate the system and extract data generated from periodic tests and automation tasks. AF allows users to:

❖ Start automation tasks from a third-party system based on user input or automated process, e.g. after a SW upgrade
❖  Pull data and result files from the SITE system
❖  Integrate the SITE platform in their operational process, e.g. create chat-bots, performance monitoring web-application, etc.

Fixed wireless access (FWA) testing

Mobileum’s fixed wireless access (FWA) testing solution consists of an IP Testing Probe equipped with two 1Gbps LAN interfaces connected to the 5G CPE and the SITE Testing Platform for end-to-end testing using real data traffic with different QoS requirements. Mobileum’s FWA testing for 5G ensures:

  ❖  Connectivity performance and network accessibility
  ❖  Service integrity and data capacity
  ❖  Quality of connection especially in areas where the gateway is behind low emissivity building materials
  ❖  And measures traffic streams that originate from a WiFi client (non 3GPP), which may not be properly classified by the WiFi access point part of the CPE

5G active E2E testing cloud

We understand that testing 5G networks can be almost as complex as designing the network itself. At the same time, one size fits all testing approach does not work for 5G.

To reduce our customers’ time-to-market and how results can be achieved, our QoS and QoE testing solutions are powered by our SITE platform, a fully cloudified global environment for end-to-end testing across 2G, 3G, LTE, IoT, and 5G networks. SITE has evolved over the last 30 years and includes an extensive range of test scenarios that can be rapidly leveraged by Communication Service Providers (CSPs) that want to make the most of 5G technology.