Agilent Intros 8x8 MIMO Test for LTE-Advanced

Agilent Technologies has introduced the first LTE-Advanced 8x8 MIMO signal-generation and analysis solutions.

LTE-Advanced promises peak data rates of up to 1 Gbps in the downlink and 500 Mbps in the uplink by aggregating up to five component carriers, each up to 20 MHz wide.  It also leverages  improved multi-antenna techniques in both uplink and downlink. For the downlink, LTE-Advanced introduces transmission mode 9, which enables Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) with up to 8 spatial streams and antennas.

Agilent's LTE-Advanced 8x8 MIMO signal-generation and analysis solutions comprise Signal Studio and 89600 VSA software, as well as the Agilent X-Series vector signal generators and multi-channel signal analyzer with up to eight measurement channels. The solutions support generation and analysis of FDD and TDD signals compliant with the 3GPP Release 10 standard.

Agilent said its solution allows engineers to start testing physical layer implementations of LTE-Advanced devices.  Its multi-channel signal analyzer enables full analysis of LTE-Advanced standards on next-generation antennas, base stations and user equipment. Working with the 89600 VSA, it enables phase-synchronous and cross-channel measurements with up to eight RF channels in a single mainframe.

"As a recognized leader and provider of world-class LTE solutions, Agilent plays a pivotal role in the development, revision and implementation of the 4G technology, LTE-Advanced," said Andy Botka, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Microwave and Communications Division. "Our first-to-market 8x8 MIMO test solutions further complement Agilent's comprehensive portfolio of LTE-Advanced signal-generation and analysis solutions, and reaffirm our commitment to actively leading the evolution of LTE to a 4G technology."

http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2013/03jan-em13001.html