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Spirent Expands Leadership in Testing E911 and Location Based Services for LTE NetworksFeb 21, 2012 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- The rise in popularity of Location Based Services (LBS) and the FCC mandate for optimal E911 performance are driving the wireless industry to rapidly evolve positioning capabilities on LTE networks and devices. Recognizing the increase in LBS momentum and the need for improved positioning performance on mobile devices, Spirent Communications has expanded its LBS LTE test solution to support LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) and Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA). These latest enhancements are critical for meeting E911 requirements on LTE networks, and they bring the mobile industry one step closer to accurate everywhere location, the key enabler for truly mainstream LBS adoption. Although the need for emergency services (E911) and LBS is nothing new, the arena in which these services need to be delivered has grown significantly more complex. The deployment of LTE enables the introduction of new positioning technologies and positioning protocols for communicating location information between the mobile device and network entities, with exciting consequences for the new services they can enable. "This time last year, we launched the SUPL 2.0 test capabilities on our LTE test solution which put our customers on a timely course to successful deployments of LTE SUPL positioning." said Rob Van Brunt, vice president of Spirent's Wireless business. "We are now excited to deliver our latest enhancements, which include extensive test coverage for SUPL 2.0/LPP and a fully automated system for testing user equipment performance for LPP and OTDOA. With our unique understanding of the importance and complexity of these technologies, Spirent is well positioned to assist customers in expediting the delivery of new location based devices for the growing number of LTE networks." Why are OTDOA and LPP so important? OTDOA is an LTE positioning technology that allows for a greatly enhanced user experience of LBS indoors (or in other areas where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS do not work well) and in doing so also serves as a key component for supporting E911. Based on timing measurements from multiple base stations signals, OTDOA can also be combined with GNSS measurements, creating a hybrid approach to deliver an even more significant LBS performance improvement. LPP is the positioning protocol that enables OTDOA along with numerous other positioning technologies on the LTE network. LPP is a control plane protocol that can also be used for user plane positioning, in conjunction with SUPL 2.0. Spirent's expansion to its LTE LBS Test Solution supports LPP minimum performance testing, as well as a completely automated system for testing UE positioning performance, including OTDOA accuracy measurement analysis. Spirent has demonstrated industry leadership in testing positioning technologies in GSM, CDMA, and WCDMA networks for more than a decade. With the latest options for testing positioning methods in LTE, including the transition between LTE and 2G/3G networks, Spirent's LTE LBS test solution further extends its leadership in delivering test support for all phases of device design, development and deployment. Spirent's solutions for location based service testing on mobile devices will be showcased at Spirent's booth #1C14 Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona. To learn more about LBS LTE testing, visit http://www.spirent.com/Devices-and-Equipment/wi-fi_positioning . ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. |