The ability to test network and device features and functions is an important piece of technology development and deployment. RCR Wireless looks weekly at the test and measurement space to see what’s afoot.
—Aeroflex says that its TM500 LTE-A Test Mobile and E500 Capacity Test System now both support carrier aggregation with three component carriers. Three-component carrier CA is supposed to enable data rates of up to 450 megabits per second on LTE-Advanced networks by allowing operators to combine spectrum bands.
The MT500 system has two-component carrier CA capability and been in the market for more than two years, Aeroflex said, but the three-carrier CA capability is new.
“The TM500 Test Mobile is the first commercial infrastructure test platform to release three CC,” said Shusina Ngwa, product manager at Aeroflex. “Offering this capability at such an early stage is crucial to enable network performance to be tested and validated, ahead of the availability of end-user terminals and handsets.”
—Texas Instruments reported its results for the most recent quarter this week. The company had first-quarter net income of $487 million on revenues of $2.98 billion. Those figures reflected a 3% rise in revenues and a 35% increase in net income year-over-year, and included a gain of $37 million for “sales of a site and other assets associated with previously announced restructuring actions “
“Revenue and earnings for the quarter were in the upper half of the range we expected and marked a good start to the year,” said Rich Templeton, who is TI’s chairman, president and CEO. TI is in the process of winding down its legacy wireless business.
TI expects second quarter revenues between $3.14 billion and $3.4 billion.
—Megger has introduced a new handheld time domain reflectometer for fault location on mixed pair metallic cables, able to test connections and locate faults for up to 12 miles, according to the company. The CFL535G is designed for use by telecom technicians, electrical service contractors and cable TV companies.
Megger’s new handheld TDR
—Anritsu has named Pete Alexander as VP and GM of Anritsu Company, its U.S. subsidiary. Alexander is a 12-year veteran of the company and has served as the assistant GM and national sales manager for Anritsu Company.
