Keysight and Alea First to Validate 3GPP EUTRA Mission Critical Test Case

• Keysight solution validates performance of first mission-critical-push-to-talk test case based on 3GPP Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access model
• Achievement provides industry with a starting point for mandatory mission-critical conformance certification

SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) and Alea S.r.l have validated the first* mission-critical 3GPP Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA) test case for mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) at the recent Global Certification Forum (GCF) Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) meeting. The validation was conducted using the Keysight S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset.

Mission Critical Communications (MCX), including MCPTT, has emerged as a groundbreaking standard within the 3GPP, offering a reliable, efficient, and feature-rich communication solution for mission-critical situations such as public safety, security, transportation, and utilities. Facilitated by TCCA (The Critical Communications Association) through the promotion of open standards, MCX is transitioning from narrowband to broadband technology to bring new features such as video calling. Conformance testing, not present in narrowband, is being adopted to ensure standards compliance and ensure high reliability, performance, and interworking mandated by mission-critical communications.

To assist MCX device makers conduct conformance testing, Keysight validated the first test case for MCPTT using the 3GPP-defined LTE MCPTT EUTRA test case and an Alea Mission Critical Services (MCx) User Equipment (UE) Client. The test case covers the major steps the MCPTT client undertakes to be configured with the MCPTT server. This includes Long-Term Evolution (LTE) attach, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) registration, user authentication and key management via Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), identity management, user service authorization, and user configuration data sharing including group management.

Keysight's S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset supports MCX protocol conformance test requirements. This solution features a user-friendly interface for configuring the device, preparing test plans, executing tests, checking results, and generating reports. This solution is required for all device acceptance test cases including conformance and carrier acceptance.

Kevin Graham, Chief Executive Officer, TCCA, said: "TCCA is pleased to see this submission from Keysight and Alea. This is an important first step towards adding Conformance testing to Mission Critical broadband solutions and will expedite the compliance and deployment of mission-critical services, which the public safety industry is committed to achieving."

Muthu Kumaran, General Manager of Keysight's Device Validation Solutions Business, said: “Keysight continues to reinforce technical leadership by being the first to validate mission-critical test cases at GCF. By leveraging Keysight's advanced measurement solutions and Alea's innovative application, Keysight was able to accurately measure the performance of the mission-critical UE application in a full EUTRA environment. The results demonstrate that Alea's mission-critical UE application can provide reliable and secure communication in mission-critical situations, which is essential for public safety and emergency services.”

Resources

• Product Page: Keysight S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset
• Flyer: MCX Flyer
• Solutions Page: Keysight 5G Network Emulation Solutions
• Product Page: Keysight UXM 5G Wireless Test Platform

About Keysight Technologies

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

* At the GCF CAG meeting #81, held in Bangkok, Thailand on 21-23 January 2025, the MCPTT test case 5.1 from WI 288 EUTRA model was approved. Keysight is the first and only test and measurement vendor to validate a EUTRA Mission Critical test case so far.