Communications engineers and researchers face several challenges when testing 5G and 6G prototypes, one of which is finding testbeds where they can run experiments with new hardware and software.
Experimental platforms that resemble real-world conditions can be expensive. Some are time-limited. Some may only be used by certain companies or to test certain technologies.
The new IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed has removed many of those barriers. Built by IEEE, this platform is for anyone wanting to try out 5G enhancements, perform trials of future 6G capabilities, or test integrated network updates. Users can test and retest as many times as they like at no additional cost.
The new virtual testbed can be used not only by telecommunications operators, but also by application developers, researchers, educators and vendors across industries.
“The IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed creates an environment where the industry can break new ground and collaborate to develop next-generation innovations,” said Anwer Al-Dulaimi, co-chair of the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed Working Group. Al-Dulaimi, a senior member of IEEE, is senior strategy manager for connectivity and industry 4.0 at Veltris in Toronto.
The testbed was launched this year with support from AT&T, Exfo, Eurecom, Veltris, VMWare and Tech Mahindra.
Subscription-based testbeds are available exclusively to your organization and allow you to get your own private and secure session of our testing platform in the cloud, and also add new users.
Diverse architecture and experimentation
The platform eliminates the need for customers to travel to a location and connect to physical hardware, Al Dulaimi said, because the digital hub is on the cloud and can be accessed by companies, labs and organizations. The testbed allows customers to upload and test their own software components.
“The IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed will provide a unique platform for service providers and various vertical industries, including defense, homeland security, agriculture, and automotive, to experiment with a variety of use cases that can leverage advanced 5G technologies, such as ultra-low latency, machine-to-machine communications, and massive broadband, to solve their pain points,” said working group co-chair Ashutosh Datta, IEEE Fellow, who is also chief 5G strategist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and director of the university’s PhD program in engineering.
“The IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed will create an environment where the industry can break new ground and work together to develop next-generation technology innovations.”
The collaborative, secure, cloud-based platform can also emulate a 5G end-to-end network within the Third Generation Partnership Program (3GPP), which defines cellular communications standards.
“Companies can not only use this platform for testing, but also use the environment as a virtual hands-on showcase for new products, services and network capabilities,” says Datta.
In addition to the cloud-based end-to-end environment, the testbed will also support other architectures such as multi-access edge computing to reduce latency, physical layer testing over IEEE-installed 5G access points and phones, and an Open RAN (Radio Access Network) environment where wireless radio functions are distributed to allow greater flexibility in the mix of hardware and software components.
Al Dulaimi said a range of experiments could be carried out, including:
Voice and video call emulation. Assessment of the impact of authentication and encryption across different 5G platforms. Network slicing. Denial of service attacks and interoperability and overload incidents. Validation of product functionality, compatibility and interoperability. Assessment of network, component and product conformance.
The Testbed Group will soon be releasing a test orchestration tool with a new graphical user interface and hundreds of plug-and-play test cases to enable customers to quickly determine whether their prototypes are working as intended across a range of standards and scenarios. In addition to basic “sanity tests,” the tool also includes tools to measure the real-time performance of proposed products.
Datta said proofs of concept (lessons learned from experiments) will help evolve existing standards and create new ones, accelerating the adoption of 5G and 6G technologies.
The IEEE 5G/6G Testbed is an asset that can be utilized by academia, researchers and R&D labs, “helping to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Students from around the world can use the testbed to gain practical experience as part of their course curriculum,” he says.
Partnership with major telecommunications companies
The IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed recently joined the Accelerating Compatibility and Commercialization of Open RAN Deployments project. A public-private consortium, ACCORD includes AT&T, Verizon, Virginia Tech and the University of Texas at Dallas. The group is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and its programs and policymaking activities are focused on expanding broadband internet access and adoption across the country.
“The 3GPP-compliant end-to-end 5G network is built with a suite of open-source modules, allowing companies to customise their network architecture and tailor the testbed environment according to their needs,” Al Dulaimi said.
The testbed was made possible by a grant from the IEEE New Initiatives Committee, which funds IEEE services, products, and other creations that have the potential to significantly benefit IEEE members, the public, customers, and the technical community.
To receive a free trial of the testbed, please fill out this form
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Watch a short demo of how the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed works.
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