Rohde & Schwarz ran the first NTN NB-IoT protocol conformance test cases according to 3GPP 36.523-1 on MediaTek’s NTN IoT capable MT6825 chipset.
Rohde & Schwarz said the validation of the new test cases opens the door for NTN device conformity approval – a significant step in bringing next-generation IoT devices based on non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to the market as well as enabling ubiquitous connectivity on land, at sea, and in the air.
The tests were the first successful validation of the mobile industry’s first protocol conformance test cases for 3GPP Rel. 17 NTN NB-IoT, and Rohde & Schwarz said could “accelerate adoption of non-terrestrial network-based IoT use cases spanning multiple sectors such as smartphone, consumer, automotive, agriculture, maritime, logistics, and mining.”
The test cases verify the changes of MAC, RLC, and NAS layers, focusing on the device’s ability to transmit GNSS data efficiently, manage multiple TACs, utilize Rel. 17 extended treordering, deliver accurate NAS reject causes and responses, handle HARQ within the NTN context under varying DRX configurations, and accurately interpret timing advance from SIB31 contents.
The protocol conformance test cases were developed using the R&S CMW500 radio communication tester, which allows engineers to assess their NTN NB-IoT devices under realistic conditions.