Location-based services (LBS) have experienced a huge growth in recent years, leading to a corresponding growth in demand for accuracy and speed in accessing location data. Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) technology, with its emphasis on higher accuracy and sensitivity, has emerged as a key enabling technology for new LBS deployments. While Network Operators and Device Manufacturers have embraced A-GPS for their devices and networks, the end-user experience is highly dependent on their performance.

There is a new trend to use a blend of A-GPS/A-GNSS, WiFi Positioning, and Cell ID location technologies, commonly referred to as hybrid positioning, in mobile devices. Spirent is addressing this new need by offering hybrid positioning test solutions, including a WiFi Positioning Access Point Simulator (GSS5700).

Spirent Communications supplied the world’s first commercially available, automated systems to test CDMA, UMTS and GSM mobile devices that use location technology. Spirent’s 8100 ULTS offers complete A-GPS conformance and verification testing for GSM/UMTS devices and chipset platforms. In addition, the 8100 ULTS offers comprehensive Performance testing beyond the minimum requirements of industry standards. For CDMA devices, the LBS test capabilities of the Spirent C2K-ATS platform offer similar test coverage. Spirent also plays a major role in the development of test requirements and specifications for location technologies within the standard organizations.