Vienna, Austria, June 28, 2021 - Anritsu Corporation is pleased to announce availability of a new solution for evaluating the video quality of 5G devices. This lab-based solution was developed in partnership with Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) and TOYO Corporation (8151: TYO) and uses Anritsu’s SmartStudio NR Network Simulator and Spirent’s Attero and Umetrix Video software, providing a new integrated 5G video quality system.

Development Background
The accelerating shift from 4G to 5G mobile communications, combined with increasing adoption of teleworking, are leading to more streaming of video content as well as greater use of online meeting tools. As a result, the quality of the video is a key factor in users’ choice of 5G mobile operator and smartphone brand. Consequently, mobile operators, 5G device vendors, and content providers urgently need a solution to evaluate the video quality of 5G devices.

Integrated Solution
This solution integrates Anritsu’s MT8000A Radio Communication Test Station and SmartStudio NR (SSNR) control software with Spirent’s Attero Network Emulator and Umetrix Video system for evaluating video quality.

The MT8000A operates as a 5G Call Box by simulating a 5G base station and core network using a state-machine-based GUI. Users can simulate a full range of 5G network conditions including both Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) topologies at FR1 or FR2 frequencies, all without creating protocol scripts. Testing of throughput, mobility, VoNR, EPS-Fallback, SMS, CMAS, CDRX, and other functions can be performed easily using SSNR’s GUI.

SSNR’s flexible network settings as well as its simple reproduction of a live 5G network environment allow easy and effective analysis of video quality. Moreover, a customer’s automation environments can be configured more quickly due to its support for numerous APIs. 

Spirent’s Attero allows users to emulate a network or a network element in an accurate and repeatable way to fully stress-test the transport of real-time services such as video and VoIP over Next-Gen IP platforms and networks. Filters can be set to test the effect of impairments on specific packets or types of traffic.

Spirent’s Umetrix Video evaluation system measures the receive-side quality of streamed video content by scoring QoE (Quality of Experience) using Video Mean Opinion Scoring (V-MOS) from the receive-side only. It supports video-streaming services and video-content analysis by scoring the original video without prior display, allowing faster and lower-cost repeatable design tests, regression tests, and competitor benchmarking.

The new Evaluation 5G Video Quality solution will be showcased at Mobile World Congress 2021 as part of Anritsu’s virtual booth. You may view the video demo here.