Critical 5G and 4G/LTE cell site issues. Smart test solutions.
Resolve network issues fast and right the first time.
Take a look at our one-stop resource poster for 5G testing done right!
Simplified test and reporting processes designed to redefine efficiency and maximize productivity.
Say goodbye to complex test applications, manual reporting processes and repeat truck rolls. Achieve automated first-time-right results regardless of technician skill level.
Enhance network performance and optimize ROI through improved maintenance and troubleshooting processes, within budget and without compromising on quality.
Gain real-time visibility into job quality and progress, ensure optimal resource allocation and performance while efficiently generating closeout reports.
The most common issues impacting cell site performance: how to find and fix them on time and on budget.
Fiber issues
Fiber inspection, proper fiber cleaning and fiber-link validation are critical steps to guaranteeing 5G network performance. When fiber link issues are detected, it’s critical to fix problems to get service up and running fast.
How EXFO helps:
- FIP-435B: wireless scope enables connector certification in one step.
- FIP-500: autonomous scope quickly inspects multifiber and single-fiber connectors.
- Optical Explorer: verify fiber-optic link health and troubleshoot potential issues in seconds.
- OTDRs with iOLM: automation and intelligence speeds up the location of a fiber cut, faulty connector or bad splice.
- Optical Power Expert: power meter with industry-leading features including Bluetooth connectivity and wide touchscreen.
SFP-related issues
Non-functional or incorrect SFPs can impact network performance and cause network disruptions leading to downtime and service outages. SFP issues include defective, degraded and aging SFPs, incorrect or incompatible SFP types and optical overload. And with such a wide variety of transceiver types—from 1G to 100G and beyond—there’s a lot to manage and validate.
How EXFO helps:
Radio issues
Operators must ensure that radios are installed correctly across the entirety of their wireless networks. Fiber connected to the wrong radio, loss of power, defective radios and configuration issues are all problems that can affect quality of service.
How EXFO helps:
- FTB 5GPro: Perform radio link validation using CPRI/eCPRI BERT to ensure proper installation and operation of radios.
- iORF: Intelligent RF-over-CPRI application, fully-automated testing approach for complete analysis of the RF spectrum transmitted over fiber with easy-to-understand, pass-or-fail verdict. Zero-configuration required, saving over 45 min. in set-up time.
PIM and RF interference
Identifying and mitigating the sources of RF interference or passive intermodulation (PIM) and determining whether it's internal or external can be challenging. Resolving these issues requires skilled technicians with extensive knowledge of RF systems and specialized equipment.
How EXFO helps:
- FTB 5GPro: includes RF spectrum analysis over CPRI and real-time RF spectrum analysis with over-the-air measurements (OTA).
- iORF: intelligent RF-over-CPRI application provides automatic detection of internal or external PIM in less than 5 minutes, with no configuration required—10 times faster than any other RF-over-CPRI solution. Used together with ConcealFab’s PIM mitigation products, it enables faster resolution of PIM issues.
- 5GPro Spectrum Analyzer: RF interference hunting with audible tone for effective PIM and external interference detection in a compact, field-portable platform that’s simple to use. Supports both 5G and 4G/LTE networks covering FR1 (sub-6 GHz) and FR2 (mmWave).
Timing and synchronization issues
Timing and synchronization issues can introduce errors, reduce capacity, cause intercell interference and disrupt communication between the radio and user equipment—ultimately impacting QoE. However, as radio access networks grow in complexity with a higher number of sites and small cells being deployed, characterizing synchronization can be tedious and time-intensive. Moreover, with the rise of TDD-based based 5G deployments using C-band spectrum, stringent timing and synchronization measures will be required to prevent interference and ensure performance.
How EXFO helps:
FTB 5GPro: Simple-to-use test methodology for timing and synchronization validation over fiber (1588-PTP, SyncE and Wander/TE) and over-the-air measurements can be performed using the same platform. Absolute time error results from multiple PCIs can be taken simultaneously and are available at a glance, without the need to connect to network equipment.
The EXFO Advantage
EXFO works closely with mobile network operators, contractors and equipment manufacturers to design innovative solutions that improve test processes—from the fiber to the antenna and beyond. We achieve this through the use of automated, flexible test tools that are scalable by design and fit for purpose, delivering accurate test results across the network construction, activation and maintenance stages. Get to the root cause of network outages in record time using simplified testing and reporting processes powered by EXFO.
Why choose EXFO?
EXFO’s Fiber Triple Play
With EXFO’s Fiber Triple Play, you can quickly and accurately solve fiber-related problems—the root cause of over 80% of wireless network problems. EXFO’s Fiber Triple Play includes:
- FIP-500: single-fiber and multi-fiber connector inspection
- Optical Explorer: optical fiber multimeter for fiber validation
- Optical Power Expert: optical power meter with built-in visual fault locator
Tie it all together with EXFO Exchange—our open, collaborative software platform. For details please contact us.
Simplified PIM and RF interference hunting
PIM and RF interference compromise signal quality, network capacity and ultimately impact subscriber quality of experience. Quickly resolving these issues is vital, but it's often costly, challenging and time-consuming.
Visit our resource hub and uncover invaluable insights on optimizing PIM hunting and unlocking efficiency gains of up to 40%! We’ve gathered videos, case studies, articles, test solutions and more to help you conquer your PIM and RF interference challenges!
Visit EXFO's PIM resource hub!
Mazimize ROI with the FTB 5GPro test kit
The FTB 5GPro test kit features a suite of 4G/5G test capabilities in a single, compact and easy-to-use platform. It’s a versatile solution empowering field techs, to efficiently test fiber, RF and the transport network—from the core to the tower and all the way to the subscriber. Includes:
- Fiber connector inspection
- Fiber link characterization
- RF spectrum analysis over CPRI
- RF spectrum analyzer
- Timing and synchronization (over fiber and over the air)
- Multi-protocol and Ethernet testing (up to 400G)
- Transceiver validation
Automated test and reporting processes
Centralized test data management can be done through EXFO Exchange, our cloud-based collaborative software platform. EXFO Exchange interconnects people, test results, hardware and software in a virtual hub, providing visibility in real time to stakeholders (service providers, engineering firms and contractors) over job progress and quality.
Your trusted partner
As the industry's experts in FTTx testing, monitoring and analytics, we pride ourselves on our accomplishments and reputation:
- +95% of the top CSPs worldwide use EXFO solutions
- 5000+ audits of quality of service and performance
- No. 1 worldwide in fiber-optic test solutions
- Pioneering essential solutions and technologies for 35+ years
Building or maintaining 5G networks?
Take a look at our one-stop resource poster for 5G testing done right!