Rohde & Schwarz successfully certifies the testing of its hybrid eCall and the Next Generation eCall test solution done by Cetecom Advanced, a leading independent test laboratory for product testing and worldwide certification for devices from various branches like communication technologies, automotive, medical technology, payment & identification. The Rohde & Schwarz solution is based on the CMX500 radio communication tester with the latest eCall option to ensure compliance with the latest eCall regulations and standards.
The hybrid eCall test specification EN 18052 states that a hybrid system must combine different transmission paths and protocols to make sure an eCall reliably reaches its destination. In practice, this means a vehicle uses NG eCall functions (IP/IMS-based voice and data over 4G/5G) but can automatically fall back to available classic CS eCall (2G/3G) transport paths when coverage or service quality degrades. Manufacturers need to validate hybrid implementations to ensure they can trigger calls, transmit the minimum set of data (MSD), maintain GNSS positioning, and deliver intelligible voice quality across multiple network scenarios, including voice over New Radio (VoNR), voice over LTE (VoLTE), and circuit-switched fallback. Tests must demonstrate that a system remains robust during handovers and under degraded radio conditions, while also complying with relevant CEN, ETSI, 3GPP, and national requirements.
“We use the solution for functional tests and protocol conformity tests as well as for the type-approval of In-Vehicle Systems (IVS) that implement hybrid eCall and NG eCall,” says Thomas Reschka, Senior Technical Consultant at cetecom advanced.
Rohde & Schwarz has updated its eCall evaluation solution, CMX-KA09x, to support compliance with EN 18052:2025 and EN 17240:2024+A1:2026. The CMX-KA099 option completed Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) test scenarios in accordance with EN 18052:2025, while the CMX-KA098 option completed PSAP test scenarios in accordance with EN 17240:2024+A1:2026. This marks an important step toward meeting European requirements for NG eCall test systems. The test environment allows the simulation of the real world mobile network conditions and the emulation of various network scenarios. This is a significant advantage in preparing for certifications or the market launch of new vehicle models.
