Testing Event 1st - 12th October, 2012

3GPP Partners - ETSI and the GSMA - have joined forces with the MultiService Forum (MSF) to host a major Rich Communication Suite (RCS) and VoLTE Interoperability Event, co-hosted by operators in Europe and China.

These tests will validate core network interfaces for multi-vendor VoLTE and RCS equipment, using GSMA permanent reference documents (PRDs) and MultiService Forum/ETSI Testing Scenarios for the deployment of LTE technologies.

High level test scenarios

Extract from the event Home page

The event will focus on VoLTE/RCS in the following scenarios:

• Home/Single Network: In this scenario a single instance of the VoLTE/RCS architecture will be created using components from different vendors. Testing will include attachment and detachment from the network, Tracking Area Update, IPCAN session establishment, SIP registration (to IMS), SIP session establishment, interaction with IMS Multimedia Telephony, IMS Conversational Video Services and RCS services. This scenario focuses on testing interoperability of the functionality as profiled by GSMA PRDs IR.92, IR.94, IR.90, IR.67 and the RCS Services and Client Specification.

• Roaming & Interconnect: In this scenario, the local breakout model with visited P-CSCF and home operator applications is tested. The test set will be the same as for the home/single network case, plus some roaming specific tests to demonstrate mapping of QCI values between the home/visited network where there is a misalignment.. This scenario focuses on testing interoperability of the functionality as profiled by GSMA PRDs IR.65, IR 88, IR.92, IR.94, IR.90, IR,67 and the RCS Services and Client Specification. In addition, an IPX provides the interconnect network between the 2 PLMNs.

The event will also test :

• Non-LTE Access: In this scenario, the ‘legacy’ 3GPP access types of UMTS (UTRAN) and GSM/EDGE (GERAN) are used to interface to the EPC. The test set will include attachment, IMS registration and IMS session establishment and teardown.

• Handover: This scenario builds on the previous one and tests the a number of handover scenarios. This will include intra-LTE handover (between eNodeBs, MME/S-GW relocation) and handover between LTE and legacy 3GPP (UMTS, GSM/EDGE) access.

• Inter-RAT Priority Call Handover: In this scenario the handover of priority voice calls between LTE and other RATs is tested. The scenario tests that voice calls originating as Multimedia Priority Service (MPS) VoLTE calls have relevant priority markings mapped properly when those calls are handed over to another Radio Access Technology (RAT) and the CS-domain and vice versa.

OPERATOR WORKSHOP

The organizers are also hosting a workshop entitled 'Next Generation Services- RCS, VoLTE and Beyond' at the Euorpean location for the test event; 10 & 11 October, 2012 at the Sintesio Facility in Kranj, Slovenia.

The Workshop will provide presentations on RCS & VoLTE deployment scenarios, test specifications used for the interoperability event, as well as initial feedback/results from the event.

Detailed information about the whole event is on-line at www.msforum.org

Direct questions about the RCS/VoLTE interoperability event can be sent via email to: Plugtests@etsi.org