OTDOA Positioning Test for 5G New Radio Verified

Sept. 2, 2021

Anritsu and MediaTek verify industry-first observed time difference of arrival, or OTDOA, positioning test for 5G New Radio.

Alix Paultre

With the expanding role of the cloud in an increasing number of markets, 5G New Radio (NR) is expanding functionality in application spaces such as industrial automation, automotive, and mil/aero, with additional positioning mechanisms added to the NR standards defined by 3GPP Release 16. OTDOA (observed time difference of arrival) is one such method, originally introduced for 4G LTE.

OTDOA relies on measuring the time difference of positioning reference signal (PRS) from multiple cells, using it to help compute its location. Recently, Anritsu Corp. and MediaTek revealed that an OTDOA Protocol Conformance Test (PCT) for 5G NR was verified using a MediaTek M70 5G modem and Anritsu's 5G NR Mobile Device Test Platform ME7834NR.

“MediaTek’s collaboration with Anritsu continues to go from strength to strength, supporting us in this rapidly evolving industry with verification of these leading features in our 5G modems,” said Mr. JS Pan, General Manager of Wireless Communication System and Partnership at MediaTek. Mr. Shinya Ajiro, General Manager of Mobile Solutions Division at Anritsu added, “We are proud to be able to support MediaTek with our test solutions, and together we look forward to introducing Advanced 5G features to market quickly."

The 5G NR Mobile Device Test Platform ME7834NR is registered with both the GCF and PTCRB as Test Platform 251. The ME7834NR is a test platform for 3GPP-based PCT and Carrier Acceptance Testing (CAT) of mobile devices incorporating multiple radio access technologies. It supports 5G NR in both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) mode in addition to LTE, LTE-Advanced, LTE-A Pro, and W-CDMA. When combined with Anritsu’s OTA RF chamber MA8171A and RF converters, the ME7834NR covers the sub-6-GHz and mmWave 5G frequency bands.

About the Author

Alix Paultre | Editor-at-Large, Microwaves & RF

Alix is Editor-at-Large for Microwaves & RF.

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the U.S. military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications, most recently as Editor-in-Chief of Power Systems Design.

Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.