Keysight Technologies and Alea S.r.l have validated the first mission-critical 3GPP Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA) test case for mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) at the recent Global Certification Forum (GCF) Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) meeting. The validation was conducted using the Keysight S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset.
Mission-Critical Communications (MCX), including MCPTT, is a groundbreaking 3GPP standard that supports public safety, security, transportation, and utilities with reliable and feature-rich broadband-based solutions. Unlike traditional narrowband systems, MCX enables advanced capabilities such as video calling, ensuring seamless and dependable communication in emergency scenarios. With TCCA (The Critical Communications Association) promoting open standards, MCX is transitioning from narrowband to broadband, requiring conformance testing to guarantee compliance, performance, and interoperability.
To support this transition, Keysight validated the first MCPTT test case using the 3GPP-defined LTE EUTRA model in combination with Alea’s Mission Critical Services (MCX) User Equipment (UE) Client. The test case assesses critical steps such as LTE attach, SIP registration, user authentication, key management via IPSec, identity management, service authorization, and user configuration data sharing, including group management. These validations ensure that mission-critical communication services meet high-performance and security standards, which are essential for public safety and emergency response teams.
Kevin Graham, CEO of TCCA, emphasized the importance of this breakthrough, stating that it is an important step toward adding conformance testing to mission-critical broadband solutions. He noted that this validation will accelerate compliance and deployment of mission-critical services, supporting the public safety industry’s goals.
Muthu Kumaran, General Manager of Keysight’s Device Validation Solutions Business, highlighted Keysight’s role in driving technical leadership. He explained that by leveraging Keysight’s advanced measurement solutions and Alea’s innovative application, they were able to accurately assess mission-critical UE performance in a full EUTRA environment. The results confirm that Alea’s MCX UE can deliver secure and reliable communication, a necessity for emergency services and public safety operations.
Keysight’s S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset is a critical component in MCX protocol conformance testing, supporting both carrier acceptance and conformance requirements. With a user-friendly interface, the toolset simplifies device configuration, test execution, results analysis, and report generation, making it a vital resource for manufacturers looking to certify mission-critical communication devices.
As the first and only test and measurement vendor to validate an EUTRA Mission-Critical test case, Keysight is setting the industry standard for future conformance testing. This milestone lays the foundation for expanding mission-critical broadband technology, ensuring high reliability, performance, and interoperability across the industry.
With this validation, the path to full mission-critical broadband conformance certification is now clearer. As MCX technology evolves, Keysight and Alea’s pioneering efforts will accelerate global adoption of next-generation public safety communication systems.