Fujitsu and NEC Partner to Enhance Base Station Interoperability Testing for the Post-5G Era
Fujitsu and NEC have joined forces in a research and development project to enhance interoperability testing for base stations in the post-5G era. This project, conducted under the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), focuses on the testing of base stations compliant with O-RAN specifications.
In order to create a more efficient testing process, the two companies have constructed connectivity testing environments in NEC’s U.K. laboratories and Fujitsu’s U.S. laboratories. From August 2021 to June 2023, tests were carried out to assess the interoperability of base stations from different vendors. Thanks to the automation of the entire testing process, including scenario extraction, parameter generation, and result evaluation, the testing time for base stations was reduced by over 30%, taking into consideration the global commercial 5G environment.
Moving forward, Fujitsu and NEC plan to utilize this testing technology for joint testing with operators and base station equipment vendors in Japan and overseas. The aim is to expedite the deployment of systems that combine O-RAN compliant base station equipment from different vendors. By shortening the time required for verification, the companies hope to contribute to the expansion and development of open 5G networks on a global scale, fostering the growth of the telecommunications infrastructure market.
As the digital transformation (DX) continues to advance across various industries, the deployment of fifth-generation mobile communication systems (5G) has become essential for powering DX infrastructure worldwide. Looking beyond 5G, the post-5G era promises further improvements in ultra-low latency, massive simultaneous connectivity, and other 5G functionalities. Additionally, advancements in power consumption and network virtualization will drive the expansion of the telecommunications infrastructure market, including the replacement of existing base station equipment.
To deliver high-quality communication services, telecommunication operators are increasingly seeking the most suitable base station equipment from multiple vendors to suit their network requirements. In response to this demand, the O-RAN Alliance, an industry group comprised of telecom carriers and manufacturers from around the world, has been working on standardizing connections between different base station devices. This standardization aims to ensure the operability of connected devices and streamline the adoption of O-RAN compliant equipment.
However, testing the interoperability of connected devices has traditionally been a time-consuming process, often delegated to operators and leading to delays if defects need to be resolved through re-testing. This poses a challenge to the widespread deployment of O-RAN compliant equipment.
To address this challenge, NEC and Fujitsu have established test environments in the U.K. and North America, which are considered to be potential O-RAN markets. These environments have been used to conduct operational testing from 2021 to 2023, employing a range of profiles and base station equipment vendors used by international operators in commercial settings. Through this collaboration, the companies have developed technology that streamlines the verification process and reduces the time required for testing.
NEC and Fujitsu have jointly developed a technology that automates interoperability testing between base station equipment from different O-RAN fronthaul vendors. This technology has been enhanced to support the actual connection conditions used by operators in different countries and regions. Among the proprietary technologies developed are the FrontHaul Analyzer (FHA), which connects base station equipment for fronthaul protocol verification; the Pseudo-DU (P-DU), which performs unit testing of radio units (RU); a test scenario extraction tool that automates each verification process; a test parameter modification tool; and a test result assessment tool.
Interoperability testing of the O-RAN fronthaul involved multiple combinations of base station equipment from different vendors and operating conditions based on real-world environments of European and North American operators. The automation of testing using technology developed through this project reduced testing time by over 30% compared to manual testing.
By significantly reducing interoperability testing time, operators will be able to shorten the deployment timeline for systems that integrate O-RAN compliant base station equipment from various vendors. This will advance the adoption of open configurations in existing 5G networks and facilitate the construction of new networks in preparation for the post-5G era.
Going forward, NEC and Fujitsu will continue to leverage their technology and test environment through collaboration with operators and base station equipment vendors, both domestically and internationally. By expediting the deployment of O-RAN compliant equipment, the companies aim to support the global proliferation and development of open 5G networks, contributing to the revitalization of the telecommunications infrastructure market.
In conclusion, Fujitsu and NEC’s partnership in the research and development of enhanced interoperability testing for base stations in the post-5G era marks a significant step towards the advancement of open 5G networks. The automation of testing processes and the reduction in interoperability testing time will not only benefit telecommunication operators but also contribute to the growth and development of the telecommunications infrastructure market. As the deployment of 5G continues to expand globally, the collaboration between Fujitsu and NEC will play a crucial role in shaping the future of communication systems.
