3GPP HSDPA conformance test case debuts

Burnham, England—As the as mobile industry readies for commencement of commercial services, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) testing begins in earnest. Gearing up, test-and-measurement conglomerate Aeroflex announces that it''s the first company to submit a working HSDPA conformance test case for approval to the 3GPP RAN5 Working Group. 3GPP is the 3rd Generation Partnership Project.

The new HSDPA conformance test runs on the existing Aeroflex test system used by a number of major cellular handset manufacturers and test labs.

3GPP Benchmarking

Responsible for the development of RF and RRM (Radio Resource Management) conformance tests, UTRA (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access; Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), and InterRAT procedural tests and the formal description of protocol test cases, the 3GPP RAN5 Working Group is primarily concerned with UTRA UE conformance testing. Aeroflex''s HSDPA conformance test case will provide the benchmark for the 3GPP verification and approval process.

Its introduction marks the formal commencement of the verification procedure for HSDPA test cases, an industry-wide and open review process designed to highlight any problems prior to formal certification. The first Aeroflex HSDPA conformance test case is expected to receive formal certification in July 2005, when its use will become mandatory.

Checking WCDMA Support

HSDPA is a 3GPP UMTS Release 5 feature designed to better facilitate mobile Web access and video streaming applications through the provision of broadband data rates. Aeroflex''s conformance test case checks the ability of a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) handset to support Release 5 HSPDA functions.

Critically, it also tests inter-system handover to GPRS (2.5G) (General Packet Radio Service) networks. That''s an important requirement as commercial HSPDA services will be progressively introduced alongside existing GPRS networks.

Prior to submission, Aeroflex verified the HSDPA conformance test case using a dual-mode chipset and protocol stack from one of the world''s leading providers of 3G wireless products and services.

First Submission Most Important

"With an open verification process for conformance test cases mandated by 3GPP, the first submission is always the most important," contends Aeroflex product manager Phil Medd. "It sets the benchmark for evaluation on which the industry as a whole is asked to comment." Medd says his firm''s new conformance test case will be the first of many the company expects to submit in relation to HSDPA within the next few months.

For more info, contact Aeroflex Inc., 35 So. Service Rd., Plainview, New York 11803. Phone: (516) 694-6700. Fax: (516) 694-4823.

Aeroflex, 516-694-6700,