Keysight Technologies and Mavenir have announced a collaboration to test and validate Mavenir’s 32TRX massive multiple input multiple output (mMIMO) technology. This effort utilizes Keysight’s Beam MIMO Detect solution for efficient beamforming with next-generation Node B (gNBs). The partnership aims to ensure the robustness of Mavenir’s offerings while optimizing user experience through thorough testing processes.

The testing involves simulating real-world scenarios with multiple user equipment (UE) that are spatially distributed and in motion. This is crucial for verifying the network's ability to maintain high performance amid dynamic conditions. One of the key challenges in testing mMIMO equipment is managing inter-beam interference, which can negatively affect performance if not accurately represented in testing scenarios. Moreover, the complexities of beamforming and channel modeling necessitate advanced testing setups to effectively replicate various conditions.

Keysight’s solutions provide a compact benchtop setup, able to support complex multi-user interference scenarios with up to 64 bidirectional radio ports. Mavenir conducted tests of its mMIMO technology under these simulated conditions, focusing on inter-beam and inter-cell mobility evaluations to ensure the reliability and optimization needed for enhanced user experiences.

Santhosh Kumar, Senior Vice President of NPI Engineering at Mavenir, emphasized the efficiency and accuracy brought by Keysight’s Beam MIMO Detect solution in testing next-generation radio and RAN systems. Kalyan Sundhar, Vice President and General Manager for Keysight’s Wireless Test Group, highlighted the collaboration as a significant step to tackle the challenges faced in multi-user MIMO testing for gNBs.