Poor antenna performance often impacts the overall performance of mobile device. For example, adding a GPS antenna to a densely-packed mobile device form factor can be a major challenge. Until recently, industry-standard test methodologies did not take into account the impact of the antenna on overall A-GPS performance of the device.

When testing in the lab, the conducted testing in industry standards does not account for the antenna performance and live network testing provides a challenging environment for obtaining repeatable results. Over the Air (OTA) testing in the lab is a key enabler of accurate A-GPS performance characterization and measurement of the device. For this reason, the CTIA recently added A-GPS OTA testing to its Test Plan for Mobile Station Over the Air Performance.

Spirent Communication is the recognized industry leader in GPS test and simulation systems, offering full support of A-GPS OTA testing of CDMA and UMTS devices and chipsets. Spirent A-GPS test solutions can be fully integrated with solutions from the leading OTA chamber manufacturers. Spirent ULTS (GSM/UMTS) and C2K-ATS (CDMA) solutions are fully validated and meet the CTIA A-GPS Test requirement. In addition, Spirent solutions offer performance testing capability that goes well beyond the standards - meeting customer needs including those for the operator acceptance.