Viavi Solutions affirms that O-RU compliance, performance, security, and subsystem interoperability testing based on O-RAN ALLIANCE requirements are now available through the VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR).
The services provided are perfectly tailored to meet the needs of radio manufacturers who intend to submit a bid for the Open Radio Unit (O-RU) Commercialization and Innovation-focused Second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 2) of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
VALOR offers radio manufacturers an on-demand test suite that includes performance, security, interoperability, and O-RU compliance testing.
Furthermore, utilizing a sizable RF anechoic chamber and a full complement of golden O-RAN compliant O-RUs, O-DUs, and O-CUs supplied by multiple reliable partners, VALOR provides Massive MIMO and beamforming over-the-air (OTA) validation, encompassing system-level Massive MIMO performance testing for up to 16 parallel spatial layers.
VALOR offers completely automated, transparent, and unbiased testing and integration for Open RAN. It was made possible by a $21.7 million award from the inaugural PWSCIF Notice of Funding Opportunity. For newcomers, businesses, and academic institutions, VALOR offers a route to accreditation in the United States.
Subject to availability, academic institutions and NTIA co-grantees can use VALOR at no cost. Due to NOFO 2, this enables O-RU suppliers to raise the bar on their testing and validation in order to meet the extensive performance criteria that mobile network operators (MNOs) need in order for them to deploy their equipment at scale.
The TM500 and TeraVM test platforms, which are part of VIAVI’s industry-leading NITRO® Wireless Open RAN Test Suite, serve as the foundation for VALOR.
With its Direct throughput Test features, which include capacity testing and uplink and downlink data throughput, the TM500 O-RU Tester improves on older conformance test methods.
Additionally, VIAVI provides Test-as-a-Service (TaaS) to serve time-sensitive and short-term Open RAN and 5G applications. The TaaS product, which is accessible to significant NEMs and CSPs, offers a supplementary option to manage surges in lab demand using clients’ own testing methodology.
For more than a century, VIAVI Solutions has been actively involved in validating network solutions for all Tier-1 network equipment manufacturers as well as testing, ensuring, and safeguarding the world’s largest communications networks. The firm holds leadership roles in TIP and O-RAN ALLIANCE, and so actively participates in the development of standards.
VIAVI has participated in every global Open RAN PlugFest, providing benchmarking and validation for five years across all countries, confirmed its official release.
“VIAVI is honored to have the NTIA’s trust in awarding us the grant for VALOR, which will make Open RAN testing accessible, affordable, and sustainable for the entire ecosystem,” said Dr. Sameh Yamany, Chief Technology Officer, VIAVI. “As leaders in Open RAN specifications development and wireless network testing for the largest network operators and equipment manufacturers, we look forward to partnering across the industry to realize the vision of Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation.”