Rohde & Schwarz Collaborates with NextNav to Provide an OTA Test Solution for MBS-enabled Devices

Use of existing satellite and cellular based positioning techniques (A-GNSS, OTDOA, etc.) can be problematic in dense urban areas and almost impossible indoors. For applications like E911 and other mission critical public safety communications, NextNav has developed the Metropolitan Beacon System (MBS) technology based on a dedicated terrestrial positioning network to augment current solutions and enable accurate and secure location of mobile devices.

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Rohde & Schwarz

Feb 20, 2018, 08:45 ET

COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rohde & Schwarz, a leading supplier of test and measurement equipment, has collaborated with NextNav to enable the next generation of location determination capabilities in mobile devices. Rohde & Schwarz and NextNav have successfully developed and verified MBS OTA antenna performance tests. This completes a critical step towards the availability of an MBS certification test solution. This MBS technology is expected to become part of the CTIA OTA test plan during 2018.

NextNav has leveraged Rohde & Schwarz's comprehensive location based services (LBS) and over-the-air (OTA) test solutions to provide a test bed for early standardization, performance evaluation and repeatability of MBS tests for consumer mass market devices. Rohde & Schwarz's test platforms support NextNav's terrestrial positioning network and technology to ensure accurate location service, with carrier-grade reliability, into buildings and urban areas where satellite-based GPS signals cannot reach.

"This partnership ensures availability of the MBS technology as part of the Rohde & Schwarz test platform and marks an important and exciting next step in making MBS mass market capable for mobile devices," said Tom Wrappe, Vice President Ecosystem Development, NextNav.

"Our advanced LBS and OTA test systems support the new MBS technology and all other existing relevant wireless technologies including LTE, WLAN, Bluetooth, WCDMA, GSM, CDMA, GPS, GALILEO and more. Our collaboration with NextNav demonstrates Rohde & Schwarz's commitment to offering test solutions that enable next-generation technologies," said Alexander Pabst, Vice President Systems and Projects, Rohde & Schwarz.

Press contacts:
North America: Keith Cobler, Phone: +1 214 663 6394, E-mail: [email protected]
Europe (headquarters): Christian Mokry, Phone: +49 89 4129 13052, E-mail: [email protected]
Asia Pacific: Wen Shi Tong, Phone: +65 6 307-0029, E-mail: [email protected]

Contacts for readers:
Customer Support Europe, Africa, Middle East: +49 89 4129 12345
[email protected]
Customer Support North America: +1 888 TEST RSA (+1 888 837 87 72)
[email protected]
Customer Support Latin America: +1 410 910 79 88
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Customer Support Asia Pacific: +65 65 13 04 88
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Customer Support China: +86 800 810 8228 or +86 400 650 5896
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Rohde & Schwarz
The Rohde & Schwarz technology group develops, produces and markets innovative test and measurement, information and communications technology products for professional users. Rohde & Schwarz focuses on test and measurement, broadcast and media, cybersecurity, secure communications and monitoring and network testing, areas that address many different industry and government-sector market segments. Founded more than 80 years ago, the independent company has an extensive sales and service network in more than 70 countries. On June 30, 2017, Rohde & Schwarz had approximately 10,500 employees. The group achieved a net revenue of approximately EUR 1.9 billion in the 2016/2017 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and also has regional hubs in Asia and the USA.

R&S ® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

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NextNav LLC

NextNav's revolutionary Metropolitan Beacon System (MBS)-based services enable mobile phones and other devices to reliably determine their location and timing in indoor and urban environments where GPS signals cannot be received. NextNav's 3D location services include accurate horizontal positioning, floor-level altitude precision, and powerful context and visualization applications. Delivered over a managed network on licensed spectrum, with carrier-grade dependability and metropolitan-wide coverage, NextNav's services are designed for public safety, E911, critical infrastructure and emergency response as well as the multitude of consumer and commercial applications that require reliable indoor 3D location or precision timing.

Website: www.nextnav.com
Press release queries: [email protected]

SOURCE Rohde & Schwarz