Wireless: prime engine for communications test
Hiromichi Toda, President of Anritsu, discusses developing instrumentation for the communications market and other specialized applications.
Larry Maloney -- Test & Measurement World, 12/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
 HIROMICHI TODA Contributing editor Larry Maloney conducted an e-mail interview with Hiromichi Toda on instrumentation for the communications market and other specialized applications. Read the continuation of this interview. |
Q: How do you assess the recovery in the global communications test market?
A: Demand for measuring instruments for installation and maintenance of 3G wireless infrastructure is robust, especially in the US and Asia. We also see growing demand for measuring instruments used in LTE development, particularly in Europe, the US, Korea, and Japan. However, the market for measuring instruments for telecommunications has not yet recovered. Global production of mobile phones, for instance, remains below the 2008 level, and test equipment investment is weak in that area as a result. On the other hand, telecommunications for public safety and homeland security in the US is increasing. China, Latin America, and Africa also promise healthy growth for Anritsu as they build out their networks.
Q: What’s the status of next-generation wireless systems?
A: There is potential demand for HSPA+ (evolved high-speed packet access) from manufacturers in Europe and the US. For WiMAX, we see rising demand for measuring instruments used in development and manufacture of RF components. LTE is scheduled to be commercialized in several regions in 2010. For that market, we introduced our MD8430A signaling tester a year ago, and it has been well received by chipset and terminal vendors. Anritsu was involved very early in development of LTE, and we now have a complete portfolio of test instruments used in the design and manufacture of LTE devices, handsets, and systems. For example, we introduced the first LTE handheld test solution, the BTS Master, now being used for early testing and deployment of LTE networks.
Q: What is distinctive about Anritsu’s communications test technology?
A: Our customer base consists of major telecommunications carriers and telecommunication equipment manufacturers, and we’ve introduced industry leading products by answering their needs. For example, we commercialized the world’s first OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometer) for fiber-optic applications, and we led the way with the introduction of a handheld OTDR for onsite use. Other innovations have included: an all-in-one SONET/SDH tester, a 3G signaling tester, and a handheld analyzer for wireless infrastructure. Anritsu’s strength lies in its accumulated technology covering both wire and wireless telecommunications. We’ve developed instruments for cutting-edge development and maintenance applications, as well as protocol analysis technology that locates and identifies problems in increasingly sophisticated networks.
Q: How much focus does Anritsu place on developing specialized instruments?
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A: Anritsu’s philosophy is to offer first-to-market product innovations and services. The MW90010A Coherent OTDR, which detects faults in submarine optical cables, is a prime example of an innovative product that responds to the needs of the market. Another example is in the LTE area, where our new MF6900A simulates fading by delaying and reflecting radio waves. By connecting it to an MD8430A signaling tester that simulates a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) LTE base station, you can test fading in a 2x2 MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) environment. This is essential for developing and validating 3GPP LTE terminals and chipsets. We’ll continue to use our expertise for development of such niche products, as well as to contribute on a global basis to expanding communications technology.
Read the continuation of this interview.
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