A glimpse of the future

date: April 15, 2002

Ericsson's WCDMA Integration and Verification laboratory in Stockholm is the largest of its kind in the world. It concentrates on the WCDMA Radio Access Network, with 150 people testing the functionality of commercial networks.

Ericsson has worked with WCDMA for more than 10 years and is leading development. The lab at Kista, near Stockholm, is one of 10 WCDMA labs worldwide that has actively developed both prototypes and experimental systems to give customers a glimpse of the future.

"This has been a way to build competence and we are now using both the competence and the resources in our development of commercial products," says Dr Jan Häglund, Manager of RAN Integration and Verification in Kista.

The lab in Kista is focusing on end-to-end integration and verification of 3G and 2G services, with a special focus on WCDMA. The facility is 1700 sq meters and consists of seven test laboratories. There is a special lab where EMC radiation is being measured to confirm that equipment complies with regulations and standards.

In the radio performance lab, radio parts of the base stations are being tested to verify that they comply with, or go beyond, the 3GPP requirements for radio performance. In the climate chamber, outdoor equipment is tested under various climate conditions. Before type approval the equipment also undergoes earthquake testing.

Deep down in the basement and separated from the main facility, are two separate labs. This is where interoperability testing between third-party mobiles and the infrastructure side is taking place. Ericsson is testing in co-operation with many mobile suppliers. "No single operator or supplier can set a global standard alone," Häglund says.

"Interoperability is a prerequisite to success. Furthermore, mobile availability is a key factor for a successful 3G launch. That's why we have a strong focus on interoperability testing."

In the heart of the lab, you can find Ericsson's most extensive test facility for WCDMA, with 100 test plants and real equipment such as base stations, core networks, radio network controllers and operation and maintenance systems. Here customers' problems can be reproduced and solved. "Ericsson's hardware, quality assurance and ability to carry out end-to-end tests for WCDMA proves how committed the company is," Häglund says.

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