VIAVI Selects ETS-Lindgren To Deliver Anechoic Chamber For Massive MIMO Over-The-Air Testing at VALOR Lab
Viavi Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) has chosen ETS-Lindgren to deliver an RF-shielded anechoic chamber for Massive MIMO over-the-air (OTA) testing at the VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR).
This new facility will enable radio manufacturers to test Open Radio Units (O-RUs) for conformance, performance, security, and interoperability, essential for the NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 2).
VALOR, funded by a $21.7 million grant from the first PWSCIF Notice of Funding Opportunity, offers free access for academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees. This partnership aims to advance O-RU commercialization and innovation by providing extensive OTA validation capabilities, including system-level Massive MIMO performance testing for up to 16 parallel spatial layers.
ETS-Lindgren, a leader in wireless OTA performance testing, brings significant expertise, further enhancing VIAVI's Open RAN Test Suite.
- VIAVI secures a strategic partnership with ETS-Lindgren to enhance OTA testing capabilities.
- VALOR receives a $21.7 million grant, supporting extensive testing services for O-RUs.
- Free access to VALOR for academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees promotes innovation.
- The new facility supports advanced testing, including system-level Massive MIMO for up to 16 spatial layers.
- Potential dependency on funding and grants for the VALOR facility's continued operation.
Insights
VIAVI's selection of ETS-Lindgren for the anechoic chamber to support Massive MIMO over-the-air (OTA) testing represents a significant technological advancement. Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) is a important technology for improving wireless network capacity and efficiency. The move to OTA testing, where devices are tested in a real-world environment without cables, indicates a shift towards more realistic and comprehensive testing methodologies.
For investors, this development highlights VIAVI's commitment to staying at the forefront of telecommunications technology. The inclusion of 16 parallel spatial layers in their testing capabilities will likely give VIAVI an edge in attracting key radio manufacturers who are preparing for the NTIA's funding opportunities. This positions VIAVI strongly within the Open RAN ecosystem, which is expected to see substantial growth.
However, it's important to note the competitive landscape. While this partnership with ETS-Lindgren enhances VIAVI's offerings, other players in the market are also advancing their technologies. Investors should watch for VIAVI's ability to maintain and expand its market share in this evolving space.
The establishment of the VALOR lab with advanced OTA testing capabilities is a strategic move for VIAVI. Open RAN (Radio Access Network) is gaining traction as a more flexible and cost-efficient alternative to traditional RAN. By providing a fully automated, open and impartial testing and integration platform, VIAVI is likely to attract a diverse range of clients, including new entrants and startups. This could lead to increased revenue streams from the telecommunications sector, particularly given the lab's free access for academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees.
From a market perspective, VIAVI's ability to offer comprehensive testing for Open RAN components will likely enhance its reputation and broaden its customer base. This move could also serve as a catalyst for innovation in the industry, as more players are able to validate their technologies in a state-of-the-art facility. Investors should consider the potential long-term benefits of VIAVI's enhanced service offerings and the positive impact on the company's market position.
Nevertheless, the success of this initiative will depend on VIAVI's ability to maintain high standards and meet the evolving needs of the telecommunications market. Continued investment in technological advancements and strategic partnerships will be key to sustaining growth.
In traditional lab testing of wireless network equipment, conformance and functionality are validated using electrical cabling between test instruments and the device under test (DUT). OTA testing represents an advancement in which the DUT is placed in a completely sealed chamber with free space vacuum to shield the environment from outside interference, and then connected to test instruments with wireless signals to further emulate real-world scenarios.
The chamber enables VALOR to offer Massive MIMO and beamforming OTA validation including system-level Massive MIMO performance testing for up to 16 parallel spatial layers. For radio manufacturers, VALOR provides an on-demand test suite including O-RU conformance, performance, security and interoperability testing. The lab includes a full set of golden O-RAN compliant O-RUs, O-DUs and O-CUs provided by several reputable partners.
VALOR, made possible by a
ETS-Lindgren is the world leader for wireless OTA performance testing of wireless subscriber devices and in the development of significant intellectual property in wireless OTA measurement. The company helped develop the industry's first OTA measurement plan, and pioneered the world's first CTIA Authorized Test Lab for mobile station OTA performance testing. ETS-Lindgren's facilities and expertise complements VIAVI's Open RAN Test Suite especially in the areas of OTA testing of O-RUs and end-to-end testing of the entire Open RAN base station.
"In order to truly accelerate O-RU commercialization and innovation, VALOR is advancing testing and certification beyond legacy methodologies," said Dr. Sameh Yamany, Chief Technology Officer, VIAVI. "OTA testing is the latest move forward, building on the groundbreaking foundation of a fully automated, cooperative, open and impartial Lab-as-a-Service offering dedicated to Open RAN interoperability, performance and security. We are pleased to be working with ETS-Lindgren as a fellow industry leader."
"We are proud to support the VIAVI team with this state-of-the-art facility enabling OTA testing of base stations. The recent evolution in base stations and their testing has been tremendous. We look forward to seeing the further innovation enabled by this OTA testing facility," said Andy Warner, President, ETS-Lindgren.
About VIAVI
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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SOURCE VIAVI Solutions
FAQ
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