
Whether to deliver truly immersive virtual reality, enable mission-critical communications, innovations such as self-driving cars or support IoT devices, these are driving the next paradigm shift. Hence, networks need to become faster, smarter, and able to handle more in every way and 5G will provide the exponential improvement in bandwidth and latency reduction to power these advancements. 5G deployment use cases identified by 3GPP–eMBB, URLLC and mMTC as they are the need for higher data rates, stricter latency requirements and extreme reliability. 5G will not only represent an increase in data rates, but also with latency times reduced up to 1ms and the use of millimeter waves (mmWave) to support greater bandwidth. But the problem is people demand the best in performance when it comes to wireless technology 5G that allow speeds up to 100 times faster than existing cellular connections and latency in the 1 millisecond range – 5G test practices are being developed and refined to ensure the consistent 5G performance that support a successful transition at end-users’ end. So, now let us see the Challenges in 5G Network Testing along with User-friendly Mobile Network Monitoring Tools, Mobile Network Drive Test Tools, Mobile Network Testing Tools and User-friendly LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & Cellular RF drive test equipment in detail.
5G testing solutions are playing a vital role in the development, deployment, and operational excellence of emerging 5G networks – means more than verifying the lightning-fast download speeds, super low latency, and expansive coverage density. 5G Testing is important which has become a critical enabler of 5G potential – test solutions quickly adapt use cases and wholesale architectural advancements that encompassing core, transport, RAN and fiber network elements all together. This has necessitated advanced verification technology in the 5G test lab that is scalable to full 5G deployment. But 5G networks (fibre) are being challenged to meet fronthaul and backhaul demands with the bar set higher for speed, bandwidth, reliability, and synchronization while network function virtualization (NFV) and edge computing face several obstacles.
Challenges –
- Lack of visibility into field test results: Processes like inefficient, error-prone manual things will impact the 5G infrastructure investments hence it will take their toll on 5G revenues.
- New technologies and equipment: Introducing new technologies will create complexity on what and how to test, which will lead to costly processes, unreliable results, and delayed delivery of 5G services.
- Fiber convergence: Existing fiber infrastructures (must now support a various mix of optical technologies like P2P, PON, DWDM) are leveraged as a critical path to 5G.
- More complex networks: Coexistence of 5G means a mix of RAN architectures that must be served by a scalable, converged mobile transport network but they support new CPRI, OBSAI, eCPRI, NGFI and new fronthaul technologies.
- Network densification for more capacity and coverage: Massive small cell deployments is necessarily support 5G networks which requires more fiber in more places hence it may occur potential issues.
- Transitioning to 5G infrastructure: Stringent 5G performance standards including ultra-low latency, ultra-high capacity, reliability, timing, and synchronization.
To address such challenges, we should implement certain solutions such as strategic planning, network virtualization, edge computing, security measures, interoperability testing and more. Telecom providers can successfully navigate the 5G landscape by implementing these solutions, bringing the benefits of next-generation connectivity to consumers and industries alike.
Conclusion
The integration of 5G networks presents both challenges and opportunities as the telecom providers can successfully navigate the 5G landscape to bringing the benefits of next-generation connectivity to consumers and industries. The two main use cases are massive machine-type communications (mMTC) that supports fast and unlimited connections of large numbers of devices such as required for internet-of-things applications and ultra-reliable, low-latency communications (URLLC). The deployment of 5G infrastructure is costly but it holds the promise of unlocking new revenue streams and enabling transformative applications. Due to huge demand for a smarter network, 5G standard has been evolving faster than expected timeline hence it is required to test the network on continuous basis and here comes RantCell, a smart phone based tool that enable not only to measure the network performance but also to compare the network performance with your competitors.