White paper

Test Strategies for 5G NR

www.anritsu.com 1
 5G is Here…Now What

With 5G network rollouts underway worldwide, 5G has become reality, empowered by the release of
the first 3GPP 5G New Radio (5G NR) specification for non-standalone (NSA) operation in December
2017 and the standalone (SA) Release 15 5G specifications six months later. These industry-agreed
upon standards gave chipset, device, and network equipment makers a roadmap to follow. Operators
also now have a baseline for evaluating those network elements.

5G NR has arrived at a perfect time to meet the ever-increasing global mobile broadband needs.
Monthly data usage on a consumer’s mobile device is expected to be close to 7 GB by 20211.
Recognizing this level of usage and the strain it places on wireless networks, many operators are
reliant on their 5G networks to meet consumer demands and expectations.

The variables that will determine its impact (and success) are now clear and established. Those
considerations go far beyond bandwidth and frequency. Cost and profitability are two primary
business cases that must be addressed. Operators, chipset manufacturers and device makers must
realize a significant return on investment (ROI) for their 5G efforts. With that in mind, engineers are
looking for processes and procedures to control design and production costs, while also delivering
quality products that are first-to-market. Selecting the proper test solutions will play a role in achieving
these demanding goals. Test solutions must have the flexibility to meet future versions of the
specification as it continues to advance.

Compared to 4G LTE, 5G technology brings greater capacity, lower latency, and a more uniform user
experience. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with 5G are shown in Figure 1.

Downlink Peak data rate 20 Gbps

Uplink Peak data rate 10Gbps

Average Data rates anywhere in the Cell 100 Mbps

Devices per km2 1 million

Area capacity 10 Mbps/m2

Over-the-air latency 1 ms roundtrip

Figure 1

Compared to 4G, this level of performance translates to a 10x improvement in throughput, a 10x
decrease in latency, and 100x improvements in traffic capacity and network efficiency. Additionally,
5G networks are heterogeneous, offering various connectivity options optimized to create enhanced
consumer experiences in applications such as mobile broadband, augmented reality (AR) and virtual
reality (VR). Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial applications will also benefit greatly from the
improved performance of 5G NR.

2 Test Strategies for 5G NR

5G NR Standard

The initial phase of the 3GPP 5G NR specification concentrated on the NSA mode. 5G NR network
rollouts were deemed easier with NSA because it utilizes existing LTE radio and the evolved packet core
network as an anchor for mobility management and coverage. It also adds a new radio access carrier to
enable certain use cases, namely fixed-wireless broadband.

NSA mode utilizes LTE technology and macro cells to control the scheduling, control channel, handoffs,
and other core mobile device actions. Small cells utilizing millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies will
serve as the high-throughput data pipe necessary to meet the speed and bandwidth requirements of
5G.

Even though the SA Release 15 specification has been adopted, industry consensus is that network
deployment of SA will not occur until 2020. The SA specifications allow for independent deployment
of 5G NR, as well as defining an end-to-end network architecture. As the name implies, SA can be
deployed in greenfield situations, and therefore won’t rely on existing LTE elements. Figure 2 shows a
proposed 3GPP timeline for Release 15, as well as Release 16.

Figure 2: Chart courtesy of 3GPP

www.anritsu.com 3
 Role of LTE & Sub-6 GHz Frequencies

As noted, the 5G NR rollout relies heavily on LTE, once again proving that the next generation
of wireless is augmenting 4G, not replacing it. Initial 5G deployment will have dual connectivity,
enabling the networks to provide multi-standard and multi-band support in devices. LTE-Advanced
based features such as License Assisted Access (LAA) will be used to help address concerns over
bandwidth and spectrum crowding and enable higher throughput.

Introduced in 3GPP Release 13 as part of LTE-Advanced Pro, LAA uses carrier aggregation in the
downlink to combine LTE in unlicensed spectrum with LTE in the licensed band. This aggregation
of spectrum provides for greater bandwidth with faster data rates and a better user experience. By
maintaining a persistent anchor in the license spectrum that carries all of the control and signaling
information, the user experience is both seamless and reliable. 5G NR in unlicensed band is a key
feature in the second phase of 5G NR based in Release 16 (figure 2).

Another lower frequency solution underway is the sharing of the U.S. Citizens Broadband Radio
Service (CBRS), which covers 3550 MHz to 3700 MHz. This band has been partially used by defense
and government organizations. The CBRS Alliance, however, is working on specifications that will
support OnGo over 5G that will address support for 5G deployments using shared spectrum in the
3.5 GHz band. The new specifications from the CBRS Alliance will complement 5G NR.

Importance of mmWave in 5G

During the launch of 5G NR, the 28 GHz mmWave band is being used, as well as the sub-6 GHz
spectrum. It has the potential to aggregate eight Component Carriers (CCs) at 100 MHz to create
800 MHz of bandwidth over continuous spectrum. In fact, mmWave frequencies are the long-term
choice for 5G because higher frequencies offer significantly more bandwidth than LTE technologies.
Aggregated channel bandwidth in mmWave bands is expected to be 1 GHz and higher, compared to
the 20 MHz offered by LTE, making it much more suited to serve as the 5G data pipe.

An additional benefit of mmWave technologies is that communication links can be spatially

separated. This allows the mmWave spectrum to be reused, even within the same cell for each
individual user through the use of massive MIMO and beamforming. Beamforming also increases
the antenna gain, which helps the high path losses at mmWave frequencies. Engineers will have to
address this scenario by tracking literally hundreds of users simultaneously in real-time to maintain
the expected quality of experience (QoE).

Other challenges are created when mmWave frequencies are present in commercial networks. The
biggest issue for mmWave is that, in general, path loss (i.e., signal power loss) is proportional to the
transmission frequency squared. For example, increasing the transmission frequency from 2.8 GHz
to 28 GHz (i.e., a 10x increase) results in a path loss increase of 100x.

4 Test Strategies for 5G NR

Further signal loss can occur due to the absorption of mmWave signal power in obstructions along
the transmission path, such as rain, humidity, foliage, and similar elements. As a result, long distance
mmWave transmissions require high-gain antennas, which are inherently highly directional. This
further implies that Line of Sight (LoS) transmission paths are sometimes necessary.

To compensate for limited transmission distance and operation in Non-Line of Sight (NLoS)
environments, smart beamforming is being integrated into 5G NR. Beamforming, as shown in Figure
3, is a traffic-signaling system that identifies the most efficient data-delivery route to a user, as well
as reduces interference for other users nearby.

Figure 3

Currently, beamforming is effective in helping massive MIMO arrays make more efficient use of
nearby spectrum. Massive MIMO achieves significantly increased throughput and capacity by using
many antenna elements to create simultaneous data streams to many users, enabling operators to
meet the needs of existing subscribers. Massive MIMO Adaptive Antenna with 3D beamforming had
been used successfully with existing 3GPP Release 9 devices on LTE TDD networks and with devices
complying with 3GPP Release 13 devices on LTE FDD networks. This raises confidence that a similar
technique will be successful in 5G.

www.anritsu.com 5
 Network Density

5G creates another consideration, specifically for mobile operators and field engineers deploying
and installing the base stations – network density. The sensitivity mmWave signals have towards
environmental conditions require more sites to be installed. Additionally, it is estimated that at least
80% of mobile data is used indoors2, which means small cells and DAS networks will be even more
prolific for 5G.

Couple these considerations with a recent wireless network report3 that stated network density
is more integral to consistently strong network performance than the spectrum bands deployed,
and the number of sites – and where they are located – becomes paramount. This makes field test
solutions that can properly test 5G network parameters essential to the success of the rollouts this
year and beyond.

Developing Test Processes

Engineers designing chipsets, devices and systems for 5G NR have done so without established test
specifications. Fortunately, test companies have worked with customers to determine likely 5G test
processes. Additionally, test companies have had a voice in the development of 5G standards, which
was not the case in the early stages of 4G.

The result is a consensus amongst most in the industry of what the specifications will likely be
beyond the first version of 5G NR. Based on all this data, guidelines have been established to help
test vendors introduce solutions that allow engineers to develop accurate models that can help
expedite the design process, as well as control the cost of test.

An early and active role by test companies has been beneficial, especially considering testing is
different as it relates to the next generation of mobile devices. One example is the antenna designs
in 5G devices compared to 4G UEs. While current LTE mobile terminals have several built-in antennas,
those for 5G will have significantly higher antenna counts. Antenna arrays are embedded in the chip
of a 5G mobile device, as well. Implementing a measurement connector for each antenna would
cause problems with mobile/terminal size and contradict cost reduction trends. All these factors
make it significantly more challenging for engineers to verify antenna performance.

6 Test Strategies for 5G NR

Importance, Challenges of OTA Testing

To test antennas integrated on the board or within the housing, Over-the-Air (OTA)
measurements, including power and sensitivity, are employed. OTA and interoperability
testing are also conducted to ensure the mobile device performs according to the 3GPP 5G NR
specification by simulating 5G NR technologies in a real-world environment across a broad set of
use cases and deployment scenarios. Those tests are conducted in mid-band spectrum from 3.3
GHz to 5.0 GHz, as well as the 28 GHz and 39 GHz mmWave bands.

Performing conventional OTA tests on mmWave designs can be costly. Traditionally, two test
chambers are used when performing OTA measurements – the reverberation chamber and
the more-expensive anechoic chamber. Studies indicate that better results are achieved by
conducting far-field measurements (FFM) on mmWave designs. Using this as a basis, OTA
measurements will have to be taken 1.5 – 2 meters on devices supporting 28 GHz. That will
require a significant investment, as the test chambers would be considerably larger than those
currently used for LTE.

To control test costs, engineers must make the decision as to which tests need to be done in an
OTA chamber. Chipset, device, and carriers all must agree on an acceptable margin of error for
certain performance parameters to eliminate the need for some OTA tests. For example, there
are considerable protocol tests that need to be performed. Because verifying the protocol stack
does not require RF measurements, protocol testing may be done without a chamber.

A second method is to develop FFM conversions or reflection parameters. Using this approach,
engineers can conduct near-field measurements (NFM) and use industry-accepted techniques to
convert them to an FFM. Figure 4 compares FFM and NFM.

Comparison of NFM and FFM

Parameter NFM FFM

Measurement Location Simple radio anechoic box Radio anechoic chamber

Near Field about 3D

Measurement Range Far Field (ex.3 or 10 m)
(ex.15 to 25mm @ 60 GHz)

2D
Radiation Pattern Measurement 3D (3D radiation pattern measurement
requires time and facilities)

Antenna Diagnostics and Analysis Yes Difficult

Figure 4

In an NFM application, compact mmWave measuring instruments can be used and the radiation
pattern can be measured using a simple radio anechoic box in a room. This approach eliminates
the high cost and long configuration time associated with a measurement system using a large
radio anechoic chamber.

www.anritsu.com 7
 Other mmWave applications, including beamforming, create additional test challenges. Engineers
must conduct static tests on devices and antennas in active beamforming environments.
Engineers need to determine how many points are necessary to obtain measurements, trading off
measurement accuracy for an acceptable test time/cost of test.

One of the most important tests on mmWave devices is propagation loss. As previously stated,
signal power at mmWave frequencies can be reduced significantly by path loss due to environmental
conditions, much more so than the path loss experienced at traditional frequencies (i.e., less than
or equal to ~6 GHz). At 28 GHz, the path loss is approximately 40 dB higher than at traditional LTE
frequencies. This is considerable since the received power at the far end of the link is halved for every
3 dB of path loss. Engineers will need test solutions that can conduct this critical measurement with a
high degree of accuracy.

Flexible Test Platforms

In a broader test sense, maintaining economic efficiencies during R&D and manufacturing can
be achieved through design of the test solutions. Robust, integrated platforms that allow test
capabilities to be expanded as necessary are required for a greater ROI on the test equipment
investment. Hardware enhancements and software tools make it easy to upgrade and, in many
environments, to simplify and streamline the verification process.

Flexible test platforms are also necessary so solutions can evolve along with the 5G standards.
Further, as use cases expand, the need for test instrumentation to perform application-specific
testing will be required.

Conclusion

5G is being rolled out on the global stage, bringing with it tremendous promise and a multitude
of new applications. It also brings higher frequencies, denser networks, and other technological
challenges. To ensure the successful operation of 5G, new test processes and solutions have
been developed to help engineers verify designs and have confidence that their products are in
compliance with industry standards.

Sources:
1. Cisco Visual Network Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 2016 – 2021.
2. GSMA: From DAS to Next Generation Indoor Systems: the Vital Shift for 5G-Readiness
3. Rewheel and Tutela Research Study

8 Test Strategies for 5G NR

Anritsu 5G Test Solutions

Radio Communication Test System

The MT8000A evaluates RF TRx characteristics at development of 5G NR chipsets,
communications modules, devices, and other equipment. It supports wavebands from sub-6 GHz
to mmWave for mmWave TRP/EIRP measurements in combination with RF converters and an
OTA chamber, as well as RF protocol tests.

Spectrum/Signal Analyzers
Evaluation of TRx characteristics during R&D of 5G NR chipsets, communications modules,
smartphones, and other radio equipment can be made with the MS2690/91/92A analyzers. A
key benefit is signal analysis of 5G NR sub-6 GHz for 5G transmitter development. The MS2850A
supports evaluation of TRx characteristics at R&D of 5G NR chipsets, communications modules,
smartphones, and other radio equipment. Its digitizer function allows signal data to be analyzed
using general-purpose signal-analysis tools optimized for R&D of 5G NR products.

Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs)

The VectorStar® Broadband ME7838A/E/D addresses the test needs associated with
characterizing mmWave devices and MMICs used in 5G. To measure passive components
supporting extended frequency bands used in 5G during manufacturing, the ShockLine VNAs
offers cost and time efficiencies.

5G Conformance Test
The ME7873NR will support RF (TRX and Performance) measurements, and radio resource
management (RRM) conformance testing of 5G NR NSA and SA devices as per 3GPP 38.521-1 and
38.521-3. The ME7834NR systems will support protocol conformance testing of 5G NR NSA and
SA devices for both sub-6 GHz and mmWave, as per 3GPP 38.523-1.

Network Master™ Pro MT1000A

A portable easy-to-use test solution with 10G, 25G and 100G interfaces, the MT1000A accurately
measures and analyzes critical network performance parameters. These include one-way latency,
which allows 5G operators to ensure URLLC performance and be confident in the end-to-end
quality of service.

Field Master™ Pro MS2090A

The Field Master Pro MS2090A RF spectrum analyzer is the highest performing handheld test
and measurement solution available to meet the challenges of 5G field testing. It can be used
for 5G NR demodulation (Cell ID, Beam ID, RSRP/Q, SINR, EVM) and compliance (EIRP, spectral
emissions mask, time offset) testing.

Learn more about Anritsu’s 5G test solutions

www.anritsu.com 9
 Specifications are subject to change without notice.

• United States • Sweden • Singapore

Anritsu Company Anritsu AB Anritsu Pte. Ltd.
450 Century Pkwy #190 Kistagången 20B, 164 40 KISTA, Sweden 11 Chang Charn Road, #04-01, Shriro House
Allen, TX, 75013 U.S.A. Phone: +46-8-534-707-00 Singapore 159640
Toll Free: 1-800-267-4878 Fax: +46-8-534-707-30 Phone: +65-6282-2400
Phone: +1-972-644-1777 Fax: +65-6282-2533
• Finland
Fax: +1-972-671-1877
Anritsu AB • P. R. China (Shanghai)
• Canada Teknobulevardi 3-5, FI-01530 VANTAA, Finland Anritsu (China) Co., Ltd.
Anritsu Electronics Ltd. Phone: +358-20-741-8100 27th Floor, Tower A,
700 Silver Seven Road, Suite 120, Fax: +358-20-741-8111 New Caohejing International Business Center
Kanata, Ontario K2V 1C3, Canada No. 391 Gui Ping Road Shanghai, Xu Hui Di District,
• Denmark
Phone: +1-613-591-2003 Shanghai 200233, P.R. China
Fax: +1-613-591-1006 Anritsu A/S Phone: +86-21-6237-0898
Kay Fiskers Plads 9, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark Fax: +86-21-6237-0899
• Brazil Phone: +45-7211-2200
Anritsu Electrônica Ltda. Fax: +45-7211-2210 • P. R. China (Hong Kong)
Praça Amadeu Amaral, 27 - 1 Andar Anritsu Company Ltd.
• Russia
01327-010 - Bela Vista - Sao Paulo - SP - Brazil Unit 1006-7, 10/F., Greenfield Tower, Concordia Plaza,
Phone: +55-11-3283-2511 Anritsu EMEA Ltd. No. 1 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East,
Fax: +55-11-3288-6940 Representation Office in Russia Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
Tverskaya str. 16/2, bld. 1, 7th floor. Phone: +852-2301-4980
• Mexico Moscow, 125009, Russia Fax: +852-2301-3545
Anritsu Company, S.A. de C.V. Phone: +7-495-363-1694
Av. Ejército Nacional No. 579 Piso 9, Col. Granada Fax: +7-495-935-8962
• Japan
11520 México, D.F., México Anritsu Corporation
Phone: +52-55-1101-2370 • Spain 8-5, Tamura-cho, Atsugi-shi,
Fax: +52-55-5254-3147 Anritsu EMEA Ltd. Kanagawa, 243-0016 Japan
Representation Office in Spain Phone: +81-46-296-6509
• United Kingdom
Edificio Cuzco IV, Po. de la Castellana, 141, Pta. 5 Fax: +81-46-225-8359
Anritsu EMEA Ltd. 28046, Madrid, Spain
200 Capability Green, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3LU, U.K. • Korea
Phone: +34-915-726-761
Phone: +44-1582-433280 Fax: +34-915-726-621
Anritsu Corporation, Ltd.
Fax: +44-1582-731303 5FL, 235 Pangyoyeok-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si,
• United Arab Emirates Gyeonggi-do, 13494 Korea
• France
Anritsu EMEA Ltd. Phone: +82-31-696-7750
Anritsu S.A.
Dubai Liaison Office Fax: +82-31-696-7751
12 avenue du Québec, Batiment Iris 1-Silic 612,
P O Box 500413 - Dubai Internet City • Australia
91140 Villebon-sur-Yvette, France
Al Thuraya Building, Tower 1, Suite 701, 7th floor Anritsu Pty Ltd.
Phone: +33-1-60-92-15-50
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Fax: +33-1-64-46-10-65 Unit 20, 21-35 Ricketts Road,
Phone: +971-4-3670352
Mount Waverley, Victoria 3149, Australia
• Germany Fax: +971-4-3688460
Phone: +61-3-9558-8177
Anritsu GmbH • India Fax: +61-3-9558-8255
Nemetschek Haus, Konrad-Zuse-Platz 1 Anritsu India Pvt Ltd.
81829 München, Germany • Taiwan
2nd & 3rd Floor, #837/1, Binnamangla 1st Stage, Anritsu Company Inc.
Phone: +49-89-442308-0
Indiranagar, 100ft Road, Bangalore - 560038, India
Fax: +49-89-442308-55 7F, No. 316, Sec. 1, Neihu Rd., Taipei 114, Taiwan
Phone: +91-80-4058-1300
Phone: +886-2-8751-1816
• Italy Fax: +91-80-4058-1301
Fax: +886-2-8751-1817
Anritsu S.r.l.
Via Elio Vittorini 129, 00144 Roma Italy
Phone: +39-06-509-9711
Fax: +39-06-502-2425

®Anritsu  All trademarks are registered trademarks of

their respective companies. Data subject to change 2019-06 Test Strategies for 5G NR (1.0)
without notice. For the most recent specifications ©2019 Anritsu Company. All Rights Reserved.
visit: www.anritsu.com

10 Test Strategies for 5G NR