¶ TN Over-the-Air
Network unification is a mega trend in communications, which has been virtually completed in the wired domain with the packet switching Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP). Who still remembers PSTNs or X.25?
Likewise, the same development in wireless communications is very likely to result in the universal acceptance of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project's (3GPP) standard. Accordingly, under various projects our laboratory focuses on the implementation of, research for, and participation to the 3GPP standardization activities at different levels.
We generate 3GPP standard-compliant mobile signals via:
- Running open-source software like OpenAirInterface (OAI) or srsRAN together with software defined radios (SDRs),
- Capable vector signal generators like Rohde & Schwarz SMBV100B, or,
- Using commercial base stations (gNBs) from national terrestrial operators that are installed on the rooftop of the SnT building (POST Luxembourg operating between 3420 - 3530 MHz, and Proximus operating between 3650 - 3750 MHz).
We receive these signals by:
- Again, running open-source software like OAI or srsRAN together with SDRs,
- Wide range signal and spectrum analyzers like Rohde & Schwarz FSVA3013, or,
- Using 5G communication modules or commercial off-the-shelf mobile phones.
Except for the commercial gNBs, depending on the research subject, we can make gNB and/or user equipment (UE) exhibit different mobility patterns - i.e. stationary, nomadic, spatially restricted mobility or full mobility, on ground-level or over an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV).