For LTE-Advanced, 3GPP Release 10 introduced several new features to
augment the existing LTE standard and to meet or exceed the targets of the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for IMS-Advanced. These features
are aimed at raising the peak data rate to 1 Gbps and beyond. Achieving this
speed will require a channel bandwidth that is much wider than the 20 MHz
currently specified for LTE. This will not be possible with just a single
carrier in the limited spectrum bands available to most operators.
Consequently, carrier aggregation—the ability to combine multiple carriers
scattered around the spectrum—will be used to achieve the wider effective
bandwidth that will be required, typically up to 100 MHz.
The TM500 Test Mobile, the de facto industry standard for testing LTE
base stations or eNodeBs, now supports all of the carrier aggregation scenarios
specified in
3GPP Release 10, and is also ready for all those currently proposed for
Release 11. Aeroflex has already been working with leading network
infrastructure vendors to enable them to develop and demonstrate a huge LTE
data “pipe” that combines the capacity of different frequency bands while
maximizing the benefits of the superior propagation capability in the lower
frequency band.
“Carrier aggregation of contiguous and non-contiguous bands has been
identified as one of the most crucial aspects in the evolution towards
LTE-Advanced. It has also been recognized as presenting a major challenge to
the design of user equipment,” said Stamatis Georgoulis, product manager at
Aeroflex. “Cellular infrastructure vendors rely upon the Aeroflex TM500 Test
Mobile to test their networks ahead of the availability of real terminals and
handsets. Providing them with carrier aggregation capability at this early
stage is vital in enabling the timely development of the base stations that
will be used to roll out LTE-Advanced.”
About Aeroflex LTE Expertise
Aeroflex LTE leadership started with the delivery of test systems in
2007 and now continues with a complete range of end-to-end test systems that
cover R&D, performance, service, and manufacturing test applications
for LTE TDD and FDD network equipment and terminals.
The TM500 Test Mobile family is in use with almost every base station
manufacturer across the world, and can be regarded as the de facto standard for
eNodeB development and testing. EAST500 is the only network capacity test
solution that incorporates the proven Aeroflex TM500 LTE air interface.
The Aeroflex 7100 LTE Digital Radio Test Set is a complete one-box test
system providing all the tools required for the measurement and
characterization of user equipment (UE) chip sets and mobile terminals to 3GPP
LTE standards, including optional signal fading simulation.
The PXI 3000 Series, modular RF test system based on PXI technology is a
proven solution to accelerate throughput in manufacturing and time to market in
R&D while catering for current and future RF test needs. It is
particularly suited to modern cellular and wireless data communications and
critical testing in a high volume manufacturing environment.
Aeroflex has engineers working in centers around the world on its LTE
and LTE Advanced test systems, to support the current and next generation of
networks and devices.
About Aeroflex
Aeroflex Incorporated is a leading global provider of high performance
microelectronic components and test and measurement equipment used by companies
in the space, avionics, defense, commercial wireless communications, medical
and other markets.