How it works: Mobility Testing in Live Networks
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This article explores SEGRON’s innovative way of mobility testing in live network, rather than in a traditional test lab environment.
Existing limitations​
Illustration below shows traditional testing solution using lab environment, usually shared with other testing teams and prone to frequent modifications that may impact test results. Thus, testing in lab requires careful planning with other testers to ensure environment stability.
SEGRON's Innovative Approach ​
SEGRON tackles these challenges with its unique solution: an over-the-air (OTA) interface to the live network, which provides stable and consistent conditions, free from the manual setup changes that often undermine traditional lab tests.
How It Works:​
- Signal Capture and Amplification:Â Received OTA signals are amplified to suitable signal strength by Signal Repeaters
- Advanced Filtering:Â The Air Interface Multiplexer separates RF signals to the most used frequency bands, ranging from 703 to 3800 MHz.
- Individual RF Band Control:Â Each RF band is managed by its own digital attenuator, allowing for precise RF manipulation of network conditions to mimic live network mobility scenarios.
Real-World Applications ​
Handover Simulations​
One of the most common challenges in mobile network testing is ensuring seamless voice call handovers, as dropped calls can significantly impact user satisfaction and service quality.
The video below demonstrates a VoLTE call scenario  where user moves out of 4G coverage but thanks to SRVCC mechanism implemented in LTE, an ongoing voice call is handed over to the legacy 2G network without interrupting the call.
National Roaming Tests​
SEGRON’s approach to testing national roaming capabilities is illustrated in the diagram below. This setup simulates live network conditions where a device moves outside of its home network (HPLMN) and must connect through a visited network’s infrastructure (VPLMN). The DUT makes a periodic search for the HPLMN while national roaming.
NG eCall Testing​
Mobile networks operators are currently in the process of phasing out 2G/3G networks and transitioning to 4G/5G networks based on IMS. Consequently, there is a corresponding need to transition CS-based eCall to NG eCall and ensure service continuity (e.g., during handover and CS fallback) because those scenarios are particularly important in the transition period.
The following diagram illustrates SEGRON testing setup to verify (NG) eCall services, regardless of the underlying mobile network technology.
Why It Matters​
For telecommunications operators and businesses that depend on robust mobile communications, the precision and reliability of network testing are not merely technical requirements—they are critical to ensuring customer satisfaction and operational dependability.
SEGRON’s over-the-air approach relying on live network minimizes the need for repeated troubleshooting and significantly reduces the uncertainties coming out of traditional lab environment.
Looking ahead​
As mobile networks grow in complexity and the expectations of users continue to escalate, innovative products like the Air Interface Multiplexer will be indispensable in assisting network operators to stay competitive.Â
By offering a reliable, efficient, and scalable testing environment, SEGRON is setting the stage for the next generation of network testing and maintenance.
Conclusion
In an industry where every connection is crucial, SEGRON’s innovative strategies ensure that network operators are equipped to provide the best possible service to their clients, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing the overall user experience.
If you want to learn more about how SEGRON can transform your network’s reliability and performance
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Frantisek Valent
Frantisek Valent is responsible for hardware product management and spearheading product innovations at SEGRON.
With over 15 years of expertise in the telecom market, Frantisek is well-versed in diverse testing methodologies.
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