Keysight said its 5G test solutions will allow Korean firm DT&C to deliver 5G testing and verification services to the local mobile device ecosystem
Keysight Technologies said it has been selected by DT&C, a Korea-based company that offers test certification services, to establish what it claims to be the country’s first 5G New Radio regulatory system using Keysight’s 5G test solutions.
Keysight said its 5G test solutions will enable DT&C to deliver 5G testing and verification services to the Korean mobile device ecosystem.
Keysight offers end-to-end over-the-air testing capabilities by combining its network emulation solutions with customizable chambers for radiated testing. These solutions will allow DT&C to address regulatory radio frequency testing of 5G mobile devices across sub-6GHz and mmWave frequencies in both conducted and radiated test environments, the company said.
“We are excited to support DT&C with early access to end-to-end 5G test solutions that will help the Korean device ecosystem accelerate the development of new 5G designs,” said Kailash Narayanan, vice president and general manager of the wireless test business at Keysight Technologies.
Keysight had previously partnered with chipset and device makers to launch 5G NR-ready, end-to-end test and measurement solutions. The U.S. firm also highlighted that it was first to launch a 5G RF design validation test solution – Keysight’s 5G RF DVT toolset – which supports the latest 3GPP 5G NR Release 15 specifications, including beam-forming and beam management across both sub-6GHz and millimeter wave frequencies.
Korean carriers expect to launch commercial 5G services in March 2019. In April of this year, the three mobile operators announced plans to share the costs for the deployment of a nationwide 5G network in the Asian nation. The initiative will be carried out by SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus as well as broadband operator SK Broadband. This shared infrastructure projects had the main aim of avoiding redundant investment in 5G deployments, according to government officials. The initiative is expected to generate savings of nearly 1 trillion won over the next ten next years.
Last month, SK Telecom selected Samsung Electronics, Nokia and Ericsson as preferred bidders for its 5G network equipment. SK Telecom said these three vendors will supply base stations and other transmission equipment for the firm’s core 5G network.
Rival operators LG Uplus and KT said they are still in the process of selecting their 5G partners. According to a recent report, LG Uplus is likely to select Chinese vendor Huawei to supply 5G equipment. LG Uplus’ COO had told reporters at June’s Mobile World Congress Shanghai that the company it would work with Huawei in building 5G infrastructure.
When building infrastructure for 4G LTE networks, SK Telecom and KT used equipment from Samsung, Ericsson and Nokia while LG Uplus used equipment from four suppliers including those three suppliers and Huawei.
