First test platform support for Bluetooth OTA UTP Test Mode

Rohde & Schwarz and Ceva have joined forces to unveil the pioneering test platform that supports the upcoming Bluetooth® OTA UTP Test Mode, streamlining over-the-air (OTA) controlled device testing. Premiering at Embedded World 2025, the UTP test mode platform is built on the CMW radio communication tester platform from Rohde & Schwarz, featuring integrated Ceva-Waves Bluetooth® Low Energy controller software licensed from Ceva.

Previously, wearables and other compact Bluetooth® devices necessitated testing through the Direct Test Mode, which involves a control cable linking the test instrument and the device under test (DUT). Enclosed DUTs present challenges in integrating a connection for this control cable. Hence, transmitting test control messages wirelessly, as outlined in the UTP (Unified Test Protocol) mode, will significantly simplify the test setup.

The Ceva-Waves Bluetooth® Low Energy platform provides a rapid, low-risk path for integrating low-power and dependable Bluetooth® Low Energy connectivity into a system on a chip (SoC). The suite of optimized, integrated hardware IP and software has been deployed and Bluetooth® SIG qualified in numerous customer chips, shipping in billions of devices across various markets.

Ceva-Waves Bluetooth® Low Energy IP has emerged as the preferred choice for Rohde & Schwarz to incorporate into their OTA UTP Tester due to its maturity and robustness. Tal Shalev, vice president and general manager of the wireless IoT business unit at Ceva, remarked on the significance of the Bluetooth® OTA UTP Test Mode, emphasizing its importance for testing next-generation consumer Bluetooth® products.

The Bluetooth® UTP Test Mode on the CMW radio communication tester platform offers a simple and precise signaling test solution tailored for Bluetooth® Low Energy radio tests during development, pre-conformance, and production testing. All Bluetooth® Low Energy and Bluetooth® Classic Radio measurements can be unified and conducted with a single test setup over the air in a signaling connection.

Christoph Pointner, Senior Vice President for Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, highlighted the collaboration with Ceva and the successful implementation of the new Bluetooth® UTP Test Mode on the CMW platform. This innovative solution will enable vendors and manufacturers of wireless chipsets, modules, and devices to conduct over-the-air testing with greater ease, ensuring compliance with Bluetooth® specifications.

Both Rohde & Schwarz and Ceva are actively engaged in defining the specifications within the Bluetooth® Core Specification Working Group to ensure that the test solution aligns with the upcoming Bluetooth® release. Moreover, the solution is compatible with ratified Bluetooth® releases up to release 6.0 Channel Sounding, supporting the existing Direct Test Mode (DTM) with the conducted control connection.