Description of Project
Procurement of an LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) load tester will support the Public Safety Broadband Project and the First Responder Network Authority. This critical infrastructure support tool will facilitate analysis of the performance and operations for our vendor Enhanced Node B equipment under load in order to evaluate Quality of Service, Priority and Preemption as needed by public safety users.

Description of Equipment
The RAN load tester must have the capability to simulate multiple pieces of User Equipment (UEs) and connect to the RF interface of the eNodeB. The simulated UEs under computer control will be used to provide loading of the eNodeB to provide simulation of public safety events and assist in analysis of eNodeB performance.

Equipment Specifications
The RAN load tester must support all LTE 700MHz bands

The RAN load tester must have proven interoperability with at least 3 leading LTE eNodeB manufacturers. The RAN load tester must be guaranteed to interoperate with all eNodeB vendors in use by PSCR.

The RAN load tester must support 3GPP releases 8, 9 and 10. Support for 3GPP releases 11 and 12 must be on the roadmap for the product.

The RAN load tester must be able to test 2 eNodeB cells simultaneously including handover between two cells on the same LTE band or different LTE bands. The two cells may be on one eNodeB or separate eNodeBs..

The RAN load tester must be able to simulate 400 UEs per sector on 2 sectors simultaneously

Simulated UEs must be able to simulate UE categories 2, 3 and 4. It must be possible to simulate groups of all available UE categories simultaneously during a single test.

Simulated UEs must be able to use IPv4 or IPv6 addressing.

The RAN load tester must be able to generate ping, UDP, TCP, FTP, and HTTP traffic on the UEs to simulate various applications. The RAN load tester must have the ability to add VoLTE traffic types as an upgrade. The VoLTE solution must support IMS registration with the PSCR server and support advanced features such as TTI bundling.

The RAN load tester must be capable of using noncompressible (random) data for the generation of UDP, TCP and FTP traffic types.

The RAN load tester must be capable of generating all traffic types in the uplink and downlink directions either simultaneously in both directions or one direction at a time.

The RAN load tester must be capable of using uncorrelated up-link and downlink traffic for the generation of UDP, TCP and FTP traffic.

The RAN load tester must be capable of testing LTE multi-operator core network (MOCN) features. This includes the ability to simulate groups of UEs using multiple PLMN IDs simultaneously and to allow each group of UEs to use an independent OP value for authentication.

The RAN load tester must allow each simulated UE to use a unique Ki value for authentication.

The RAN load tester must be able to test quality of service features of LTE. This includes the ability to request bearers with specific QCI parameters and to accept network assigned bearers with specific QCI parameters.

The RAN load tester must support reading of SIB messages in support of testing access class barring.

The RAN load tester must be able to test allocation and retention priority features of LTE

Simulated UEs must be able to simultaneously use multiple APNs and bearers

The RAN load tester must be able to create tests that will vary the number of UEs and over the air traffic for tests running up to 72 hours

The RAN load tester must be capable of simulating UEs that support preamble formats 0, 1, 2 and 3.

Detailed statistics must be provided at test completion to evaluate performance of eNodeB under test. Statistics must be recorded at intervals of 30 seconds or less during the test. Statistics must include (but are not limited to):
Number of UEs attached
Number of failed attaches
Number of active bearers per UE group
RRC messages sent and received
RRC connection success rate
NAS messages sent and received
Amount of data sent and received
IPv4 packets sent and received
IPv6 packets sent and received

The RAN load tester must support RF fading as a simulated UE moves within and between cells. The support of 3GPP fading models EPA5, EVA5, EVA70, ETU70, and ETU300 by the RAN load tester is desired.

Operation of the RAN load tester must chiefly be accomplished through the use of a graphical user interface. Scripting or command line control must be kept to a minimum if used at all.

Technical support for one year including software updates and technical assistance must be included.

The equipment must have the capability to be expanded to at least 1000 UEs per sector and up to 12 sectors