Keysight expands 5G NR collaboration, acquires Thales Calibration Services

Test and measurement company Keysight Technologies has extended its collaboration with Bluetest to integrate Keysight’s 5G new radio (NR) network emulation solutions with Bluetest’s reverberation chamber for over-the-air (OTA) testing of 5G NR devices in sub-6 GHz (FR1) frequency bands.

Mobile operators in China, Japan, Korea and Europe are pursuing ambitious plans to deploy 5G networks in FR1 by the year 2020. As a result, they need test solutions that can accelerate development and validation of new 5G NR devices operating in FR1 frequency bands that deliver favourable radio propagation characteristics, such as in-building penetration and reach.

The integration of Keysight’s 5G-based network emulation solutions with Bluetest’s reverberation chambers (including Flow software support) enables mobile operators, and their respective mobile device ecosystems, to quickly, easily and repeatably verify the data throughput performance of 5G NR devices operating in FR1, leading to fast validation of 5G mobile devices. The collaboration with Keysight also enables Bluetest to provide customers the ability to upgrade existing Bluetest chambers to support 5G NR on sub-6 GHz frequencies.

The news comes shortly after Keysight announced its acquisition of Thales Calibration Services, effective 2 July, establishing Keysight as what is claimed to be the largest calibration and support services organisation in Australia.

Thales Calibration Services is a commercial calibration facility specialising in dimensional, pressure, mass and temperature metrology. Located in Melbourne, Thales Calibration was originally established to provide dimensional support, but expanded its capabilities and accreditation over the past several decades. It is now believed to be the largest commercial non-electronic metrology lab in Australia servicing the defence, commercial, medical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.

The acquisition complements Keysight’s existing electrical portfolio, creating new opportunities for Keysight to support the defence and commercial sectors in Australia and offering customers a one-stop services solution provider.