Anritsu and Bluetest Develop OTA Measurement for 5G RedCap

Anritsu Company and Sweden-based Bluetest AB have collaborated to develop an innovative Over-The-Air (OTA) measurement system designed to assess the performance of 5G IoT devices compliant with the IoT-optimised 3GPP Release 17 RedCap (Reduced Capability) specification.

The OTA measurement system merges Bluetest’s Reverberation Test System (RTS) series of chambers (RTS65/85/95) and the accompanying Flow measurement control software with Anritsu’s Base Station Simulator MT8000A. This system facilitates a comprehensive evaluation of RedCap-compatible devices, including metrics such as Total Radiated Power (TRP), Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS), and throughput, ensuring practicality and reliability in testing.

Conducting OTA testing using the RTS65 allows for an in-depth assessment of the overall communication performance of wireless devices, particularly antennas, in a realistic environment by transmitting and receiving signals through free space. Despite potential instability in communications during OTA testing under certain conditions, the broad reception range of the MT8000A plays a crucial role in stabilising communications, thereby enabling swift and efficient testing processes.

Specifically tailored for IoT applications, the 3GPP Release 17 RedCap specification is geared towards various applications such as industrial sensors, surveillance cameras, and wearable devices. This specification promotes attributes like low cost, low power consumption, and compact design. The commercial rollout commenced in China and the US in 2024, with further expansion anticipated in Japan and other regions starting from 2025.

“Through our collaboration with Anritsu, we have developed a testing system that merges the speed of reverberation chamber measurements with the user-friendly nature of the MT8000A for RedCap devices,” stated Sara Catteau, Business Development Manager at Bluetest. “This system offers users a straightforward configuration process and delivers precise results in a timely manner.”

Makoto Yamada, Director of Solution Marketing Department, Mobile Solutions Division at Anritsu, expressed, “Our partnership with Bluetest is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of performance testing for 5G IoT devices. With the increasing number of RedCap-compatible devices, the pre-evaluation of RF performance is becoming increasingly crucial. We believe that this collaboration will significantly contribute to the advancement of this market and the transition to 5G technology.”