Rohde & Schwarz’s Interactivity Test, approved by the ITU, revolutionizes network performance assessment for real-time and interactive applications, providing mobile network operators with comprehensive solutions. This standardized methodology ensures reliable and accurate evaluations, optimizing network infrastructure and enhancing user experience.
Rohde & Schwarz, a leading provider of mobile network testing solutions, has received official approval from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for its Interactivity Test methodology. The ITU’s endorsement recognizes the Interactivity Test as a standardized procedure in line with Recommendation ITU-T G.1051. This cutting-edge testing approach offers mobile network operators a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of network performance, particularly for real-time and interactive applications.
The introduction of 5G technology has ushered in a new era of services, catering to individual users as well as industrial and automotive applications. These services rely heavily on ultra-high reliability and real-time interaction. Unlike traditional testing methods that primarily focus on data transfer speeds and network throughput, the Interactivity Test measures crucial parameters such as round-trip data latency, packet delay variations, packet error rates, and proofing bit rates. By pinpointing specific network issues that impact the quality and reliability of real-time and interactive services, the Interactivity Test offers a more integrative and scalable approach.
The Interactivity Test evaluates latency under real network load conditions and allows for customized load patterns tailored to specific use cases. It provides comprehensive low-layer packet service information, while an over-the-top assessment generates a network interactivity score for each use case. This granular approach enables the identification of data transmission bottlenecks and facilitates the optimization of network infrastructure to support real-time and interactive applications. Compliance with industry standards and regulations is ensured, resulting in improved quality of experience (QoE) and quality of service (QoS).
Rohde & Schwarz offers a range of Interactivity Test solutions that can be seamlessly integrated with their active mobile network testing tools. One such solution is QualiPoc Android, a handheld test solution designed to evaluate and troubleshoot voice, video, and data service quality. With its ability to collect data from the L1 radio to the application layer, QualiPoc Android provides a comprehensive view of performance. The dedicated QualiPoc Interactivity Test enhances the data transmission performance suite by identifying transmission bottlenecks and offering valuable insights from radio and IP traces. Additionally, QualiPoc supports other ITU service testing standards, including POLQA ITU-T P.863 for telephone speech quality and ITU-T J.343.1 for real-time mobile video quality analysis.
The relevance of interactivity extends beyond network performance assessment, as it plays a crucial role in benchmarking activities. Rohde & Schwarz’s SmartBenchmarker software platform allows users to configure, execute, and monitor test campaigns involving multiple channels simultaneously. This platform combines QualiPoc with RF scanners such as the R&S TSME6, providing a comprehensive benchmarking solution. SmartBenchmarker also enables remote operation of measurement equipment through SmartMonitor.
Dr Jens Berger, Senior Director of Applied Research at Rohde & Schwarz Mobile Network Testing, expressed pride in the company’s pioneering efforts. He stated, “Rohde & Schwarz was the first to implement and deploy this new measurement approach in 2019. The value of this method has been recognized by ETSI and the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector ITU-T and defined as its own Recommendation ITU-T G.1051, which fills us with pride. Rohde & Schwarz is again spearheading the most advanced test and measurement approaches for mobile network testing and setting international standards.”
With the ITU’s official approval of Rohde & Schwarz’s Interactivity Test, mobile network operators can trust in the company’s reliable and comprehensive solutions to meet their network testing requirements. The Interactivity Test’s ability to accurately assess network performance for real-time and interactive applications will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the overall user experience.
