Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) dramatically improves speed and reliability of position fixes using an assistance server to provide the satellite data that receivers would ordinarily have to download from the GPS satellites.

Provision of assistance data to a GPS receiver greatly improves the Time To First Fix (TTFF) and increases its sensitivity. A-GPS offers significant performance advantages over autonomous GPS, particularly at the very low power levels often associated with consumer usage in urban and indoor environments.

Similar to GPS, GLONASS is a navigation satellite system that helps improve performance in difficult environments when used in conjunction with GPS. Calculating device position requires at least three satellite signals, and devices that use both GPS and GLONASS almost double the number of usable satellites in the sky compared to GPS alone. Therefore, GPS+GLONASS devices have a greater chance of receiving more “line-of-sight” signals which subsequently improves the accuracy and reliability of position fixes.

Spirent test systems for A-GPS and A-GLONASS range from provision of assistance data to the device under test through to integrated wireless network and GPS environment simulation with full conformance, performance and Over-The-Air (OTA) test capabilities. Spirent also offers production test systems for A-GPS devices. Testing can simulate both UE-Based and UE-Assisted operating modes and synchronization to other systems such as network location servers. Conformance testing is in accordance with standards from organizations such as 3GPP, 3GPP2 and the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). Leading network operator acceptance test plans are also supported.