Confronted with multiple 5G spectrum bands and network density requirements – higher frequency bands, including mmWave, require a denser network, with up to 20 times as many base stations as 4G – operators face a real challenge to quickly and cost-effectively deploy new 5G sites in full working order.
Whether it’s rolling out a new 5G network, a new technology overlay, or expanding your network coverage footprint, accurately assessing pre-launch performance is critical. Only by testing and optimizing the network from your subscribers’ perspective can you be confident that the network is going to deliver the promised 5G user experience. This is where initial site tuning comes in.
What is initial 5G site tuning?
Initial site tuning involves validating that new 5G sites and clusters provide the intended coverage and that all voice and data services are working as expected.
Within a mobile operator’s organization, the responsibility for initial site tuning sits with the network deployment team. The challenge is one of complexity and scale. For every new site that is built, the network deployment team needs to ensure it is well integrated with its neighbors in the existing network and performing optimally. In the case of most 5G network rollouts, this will be many thousands of sites each requiring comprehensive drive testing. A time-consuming and expensive process where finding efficiencies is critical.
The benefits of initial site tuning
The network deployment team has responsibility for not only validating, troubleshooting and optimizing the deployment, but they also need to be able to provide reports to the business on the status of the 5G network roll-out. With operators’ CAPEX and OPEX under pressure and scrutiny, the network deployment team is on the front line to ensure the roll-out is completed quickly, cost-effectively and accurately.
Using a next-generation network testing solution for the validation and tuning of new 5G sites and clusters means you can:
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Accelerate your 5G rollout fast
Accurate initial tuning will ensure faster time-to-market of your 5G network
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Reliably test with the devices your customers use
Test the latest 5G handsets and access Layer 3 messages for detailed troubleshooting
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Ensure a comprehensive view of your subscribers’ experience
Easily test native and OTT voice quality, OTT applications and user interactivity
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Be in control of your testing with capabilities
Take advantage of powerful device-forcing features, scripting and workflow integrations to enable efficient network testing and analysis
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Align with global best-practice and standards-based testing
This includes the latest test methodologies and recommendations from ETSI and ITU-R
How to carry out initial site tuning
For initial site tuning, operators’ network deployment teams are using our TEMS Investigation solution to validate their new 5G sites and clusters.
TEMS Investigation is a powerful drive testing solution for initial tuning, 5G site acceptance, software upgrade verification, new feature validation, network troubleshooting and more. Through our partnerships with device and chipset manufacturers, we are able to support the latest technologies, features and handsets your customers are using. This means you can not only reliably test and improve your subscriber quality of experience, but you can also accelerate your 5G roll-out and gain a competitive edge.
This powerful drive testing solution enables your network deployment engineers to verify, optimize and troubleshoot both the 5G network and other mobile network technologies. ensuring that the user experience is tested for not only new 5G subscribers but also those devices still connecting to your legacy networks.
The end-to-end TEMS Investigation network testing solution provides your drive test engineers with a complete set of predefined test sequences to simplify your field tests. It supports multiple devices, all network technologies and the ability to use scanners for detailed RF measurements to meet your test needs.
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