When new communication technology is introduced, what are the most important features for such a technology? Reliability, performance, and security come to mind first. How do you establish that the new technology is reliable, secure, and performing as required? There is only one answer here – testing. New technology must be thoroughly tested before and during the deployment.
MCX, broadband-based group communication technology, is one such communication technology broadly introduced to the service providers’ networks around the world. As MCX becomes the communication tool for public safety and first responders, proper testing is becoming even more essential, as reliability, performance, and security are crucial in such deployments.
There are many aspects of testing for communication technology – device testing, server testing, network testing (reliability, performance, load), interoperability testing, field availability and coverage testing, automated system testing, and many others. Let’s take a deeper look here:
Device Testing
Used to test and verify implementation of individual features of the device before they are brought into the service according to the system requirements for a given deployment, such as KPIs, ad-hoc group calls, chat groups versus pre-established groups, private call or floor control request.
System Testing
Used to test and verify complete system functionality of the solution/service. This can includes complex functional scenarios(interworking, migration and interconnection), KPI/performance testing, load testing, reliability, media quality of service, and more.
Interoperability Testing
Focused on ensuring that the system under test is interoperable with various standards-based implementations, typically based on the specific testing plan. It is particularly important when multiple MCX systems or networks are involved.
Automated Testing
Typically conducted as part of the release routine. Daily builds of the system under test (SUT) can be verified through regression testing. Also often used in post-deployment scenarios to verify continuous operation of the installed SUT. Automated testing is usually orchestrated using testing scripts, so the ability to control testing elements remotely, let’s say, using RESTful APIs, is important.
Field Testing
Testing is done at the location of the user. Used to verify or map service coverage and quality in the given geographic area. To implement field testing solutions, both manual and automated testing approaches are possible. In case of automated field tests, let’s say, to asses quality of the coverage, orchestration capabilities are required. Once again, RESTful APIs offer a great advantage here, enabling full automation of the test execution.
It is also important to note that mobile broadband-based mission critical group communications’ appeal goes past public safety and first responder users. MCX is also a cornerstone of the FRMCS, Future Railways Mobile Communications Systems standard developed by UIC, with its own testing requirements for MCX-based functionality.
Growing demand for MCX deployments creates growing need for MCX communications testing that in turn creates an excellent opportunity for the 4G/5G communications test equipment manufacturers to extend their products to support MCX testing. The best way to add MCX functionality is by using already proven MCX technology which can be embedded into the existent testing tools and equipment.
Softil BEEHD MCX SDK as a foundation of your MCX testing solution
Softil BEEHD MCX SDK is a versatile tool for developers of MCX solutions. It is a 3GPP Release 18-compliant library with a rich set of APIs to enable a wide variety of solutions. In addition to end-user devices, terminals, dispatch solutions, gateways, and recording systems, BEEHD is well-suited for the development of various testing solutions.
Speaking specifically about testing solutions, BEEHD offers two possible ways of integration into the testing product – via direct API calls, when BEEHD libraries are built directly into the product, and RESTful APIs, where MCX functionality is invoked remotely.
What is even more important is that today, there are testing solutions already built on top of BEEHD using both approaches.
Rhode & Schwarz, a global leader in communications testing solutions, used BEEHD RESTful APIs to build a field testing solution to test the reliability and quality of communications in MCX networks.
Mocotec GmbH used BEEHD to build the next generation of dispatcher solutions with built-in testing and analytics capabilities, working under the umbrella of the German BDBOS KoPa_45 innovation program.
Testing is critical for the success of MCX technology, and Softil can help you to develop best-of-the-breed testing tools to test MCX. Reach out and let us know how we can help!