Technology Background
Conformance Testing of NB-IoT Modules and Terminals
NB-IoT (also known as LTE Cat-NB1) is the name for a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) that can be deployed within an existing LTE band, in the guard band of LTE carriers, or in stand-alone mode, which provides an easy migration path for the reformed GSM (2G/GPRS) spectrum. Like all LPWAN technologies, it is designed to connect a high volume of M2M devices within the Internet of Things (IoT). It scales down to extreme simplicity for low-throughput, delay-tolerant applications, such as meters and sensors, and it provides very high indoor coverage. Core and test specifications for this technology are defined by 3GPP.
COMPRION has contributed actively towards NB-IoT USIM/USAT test specificaions at the 3GPP working group CT6. Most of the NB-IoT test cases were initially drafted by COMPRION’s standardization experts.
NB-IoT Test Solutions validated by GCF and PTCRB
IoT terminals and modules that want to make use of this network technology require the certification by GCF and PTCRB. This implies that they pass the relevant tests according to release 13 and later:
- 3GPP TS 31.121 for USIM
- 3GPP TS 31.124 for USAT
The GCF/PTCRB-validated test platform is based on COMPRION SIMfony, the most popular conformance test platform for combined handset testing of the UICC interface in mobile devices. The version used for this purpose is COMPRION SIMfony CMW500 and listed at GCF and PTCRB as TP 150.
Minimize energy consumption with Power Saving Mode (PSM) and Extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX)
3GPP requires the terminals that implement PSM or eDRX to be thoroughly tested from Release 14 on. COMPRION took the lead with the creation of the corresponding test cases. The validation of the COMPRION tests initiated the activation of the GCF work item WI-301-NB. This way, the tests have become part of the GCF certification program. And the North American counterpart PTCRB has also added the tests to their their certification program (RFT).
