VIAVI Solutions partners with Calnex Solutions for Open RAN testing solutions

VIAVI Solutions partnered with Calnex Solutions to deliver plug-and-play testbeds aimed at validating Open RAN (ORAN) products for end-to-end and cybersecurity testing. These solutions align with Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) ALLIANCE and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, facilitating compliance and streamlining pre-certification processes.

Manufacturers can access testbeds designed for comprehensive protocol, signal, and timing evaluations immediately without the lengthy setup typically required for traditional testing. This initiative addresses the growing demand for efficient in-house testing labs, especially amidst the transition to ORAN technology in 5G and 6G systems.

Through the collaboration, three immediate testbed offerings are available: an end-to-end cybersecurity testing solution, a specific test solution for O-RU and O-DU with S-plane testing, and core network emulation test bundles. VIAVI’s TM500 and XEdge platforms enhance these test capabilities, enabling users to emulate real-world network conditions for various scenarios.

Ian Langley, Senior Vice President at VIAVI, highlighted the challenges faced by O-RU developers due to testing with limited vendor inputs. Homomorphic Encryption (HE) noted that access to these integrated tools simplifies the testing process. Calnex's CEO, Tommy Cook, remarked on the urgency for operators to establish in-house testing capabilities, stating that the partnership effectively combines their offerings to address operational inefficiencies in network validation.

These systems support rigorous conformance testing for O-RAN and 3GPP specifications while emulating network conditions such as jitter and delay, providing manufacturers with the means to validate functionality and achieve compliance.