Munich, November 8, 2013 — Rohde & Schwarz and HiSilicon have successfully implemented the requirements for device category 6 in compliance with 3GPP Release 10 for LTE-Advanced. Jointly, the companies have performed tests on a HiSilicon Balong720, the world’s first category 6 chipset solution. Balong720 supports the aggregation of two component carriers each with a bandwidth of 20 MHz in the downlink and achieves data rates of 300 Mbps.   
  
For the test setup, the R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz was used in callbox mode and as protocol tester. The test platform was equipped with options for RF tests, protocol tests and end-to-end tests for LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation. It is the only one-box RF test solution on the market that allows measurements with two component carriers in the downlink, including 2×2 and 4×2 MIMO, without restricting the bands and bandwidths that are used. The R&S CMW500 also provides the necessary performance for the required 300 Mbps data rate on the IP level for category 6 in the downlink.   
  
With this achievement, Rohde & Schwarz and HiSilicon contribute to the progress of the entire supply chain and speed up the commercial launch of LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation functionality. Until now, scenarios for LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation were usually implemented with two component carriers, each with a 10 MHz bandwidth and 150 Mbps total data rate in the downlink (category 4). Device category 6 will make it possible to double this data rate.   
  
The options for RF tests and protocol tests for LTE-Advanced downlink carrier aggregation for LTE FDD as well as LTE TDD are now available from Rohde & Schwarz.   

For more information, visit www.rohde-schwarz.com