Manual testing for 5G applications: considerations and best practices
These days, organizations must have access to mobile applications. However, mobile apps are not merely a mobile clone of PC apps. Mobile devices and desktop computers differ from one another in the same way as mobile applications do from desktop applications. Therefore, this variation needs to be taken into account while developing and testing mobile applications. Read the blog to know the considerations and best practices of manual testing for 5G applications.
Introduction
A successful 5G rollout from day one is essential for 5G monetization and user experience. The first 5G handsets offer Dual Connectivity with both 5G and LTE, adding to the complexity of smartphones by introducing new radio technology and frequency bands. In addition, 5G networks built to virtualized in order to support novel features like network slicing, which add complexity and make it more difficult to isolate service issues, particularly in setups with many vendors.
Effective end-to-end testing platform provides efficient 5G testing techniques using wireless interfaces, smartphones, and core network probes to supply all the information regarding the performance and experience quality of 5G services. The platform gives operators the power to attain the extreme reliability, stricter latency specifications, and highest data rates. It is designed and optimized to benchmark, troubleshoot, monitor, and test 5G services around-the-clock. Read the article to know the best methods and considerations of manual testing for 5G applications:
Manual testing for 5G applications: considerations and best practices
Despite the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the industry group that establishes the international standards for 3G UMTS, 4G LTE, and 5G technologies, issuing its initial standard for 5G NR, 5G Testing still has a number of unresolved issues. The secret to creating reliable 5G testing models that result in more standardized test procedures is standardization. We should be prepared to expect a similar progression for 5G Testing best practices since LTE standards have been widely accepted for devices such as smartphones. With its high-bandwidth and vast frequency range capabilities, 5G technology requires the use of best practices to evolve as its tools and applications grow over the coming years. Here are the considerations and tools for 5 application manual testing.
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Utilize case driven testing strategy
It’s critical to identify the most relevant utilizing industries and cases given that 5G is currently being used in hundreds of use cases and dozens of different industries. CSPs should develop a test approach based on modeling the top 10-15 use case situations. Top 5G use cases such as extremely high throughput, extremely low latency, enormous IoT connections, remote surgery, and enhancing video services all have different test architectural requirements. Nine use case groupings created by clustering analysis in another paper by Ericsson, encompassing over 90% of the market opportunity for 5G services.
Automation:
For 5G test assurance and environments, analytics-driven automation is a must. One crucial application for 5G is network slicing. Slices will be generated, used, and removed dynamically. Furthermore, depending on usage and requirements, slices can only formed for a certain period of time (a few seconds to several hours). Automation is the only method that can control such dynamic behavior. Also, Automation based on analytics and machine learning is essential for 5G system deployments and testing because changes will occur more quickly than humans can grasp.
Automation should be set up such that test systems proactively detect when the System Under Test (SUT) is about to crash, experience big alarms, or experience service degradation and automatically suggest remedial measures.
Continuous everything:
Continuous everything isn’t just a technical cliche for 5G; it’s likely the most significant change that telecom suppliers; and operators will need to adjust to as they enter the next decade. Due to the enormous complexity of 5G, a DevOps-based strategy is required; with continuous testing, integration, and deployment throughout the lifecycle. In the current quick-paced DevOps era, static test methodologies that were once effective will no longer be effective.
Test libraries and APIs based on micro services would be introduced; enabling more rapid and adaptable integration with merchandise and new releases from various vendors. With frequent updates to test suites and scenarios, continuous integration will be dynamic in nature.
Cloud-native:
The 5G testing architecture must be based on software, with various test scalability requirements, configurations, test cases, and test suites. These requirements should met with changes to the software or configuration of static files linked to test suites. These programmes ought to make use of cloud-based infrastructure and services. In order to enable on-the-fly test runs and quicker test timeframes; efforts should be taken to reduce the utilization of proprietary hardware. The reuse of test components, protocols, and services should be supported by testing methodology and tools. In order to make test tools, protocols, and services loosely connected; and speed up development and deployment, they can be containerized.
Optimizing the legacy testing framework:
In order to support legacy, inter-RAT, and inter-system handover testing scenarios; the legacy testing framework used in 3G and 4G networks can also improved to be a component of the new 5G test framework. In order to resolve errors discovered while testing the System Under Test more quickly; the current debugging and logging mechanisms must be upgraded (SUT). End-to-end(E2E) debugging of the complete network simulation and real network testing will significantly improved by a single logging mechanism across all test tools, such as functional, load, performance, and RF tools.
Testing for 5G network slicing
A significant component of 5G is network slicing; which makes use of virtualization tools to build logical networks with various performance properties. This enables operators to meet multiple 5G use cases while utilizing similar underlying infrastructure. SLAs must tracked and guaranteed for each slice, though.
Both RAN and CN slicing can tested using the 5G Slicing monitoring and validation system at every stage, from slice instantiation through operation and decommissioning. For analysis and troubleshooting, it offers performance score cards for each network slice; as well as the option to drill down to individual lines and specific KPIs. Any decline in slice performance detected before it has an impact on business and service thanks to proactive alarming.
Automation supporting CI/CD/CT
It is important to include a continual testing component in bigger procedures like CI/CD/CT pipelines; but Automation Framework (AF) can quickly integrated into these methods and act independently as well. With RESTful APIs, users can take out data from automation tasks; and ongoing tests and automate the system, providing users even better flexibility. AF functions in conjunction with testing methods to give this flexibility. Utilizing AF, users are apt to start automation functions from a third-party system based on user input or an automatic process; such as following a SW upgrade. The system’s data and result files include the strategy in their operational workflow by incorporating it into performance monitoring web applications, chatbots, etc.
Network installation and mobile network testing
To maintain perfect QoS and network performance, every new cell site requires to be examined. In order to assess the transmitter in the frequency and time domains and solve difficulties; a conventional site acceptance procedure involves spectrum measurements carried out over the air.
Utilizing a smartphone to collect performance KPIs like upload speed, download speed, and latency; 5G has a new condition for functional tests that confirm the connection to the network. Last but not least, synchronization signals for the LTE and 5G anchor signals are verified by signal decoding. Utilizing signal decoding, spectral, and functional techniques; any technical issues can be identified and fixed once the network is up and running.
Security Testing
One of the key components of every app is app security, especially those in the banking; e-commerce, and similar categories where users’ personal data retained for later use. The majority of apps allow users to log in via OAuth (Open Authentication) APIs; although there may be instances where doing so exposes users to security risks.
In this situation, security testing is crucial as it aids in conducting security audits across the board for the application. Some of the well-known mobile app security testing tools that are helpful in locating vulnerabilities in the app include Zed Attack Proxy; Micro Focus, Veracode, and WhiteHat Security.
You might also need to follow the security recommendations made by PCI DSS (for applications connected to payments); HIPAA (for apps dedicated to the healthcare industry), and FFIEC (for banking specific apps).
In addition to the procedures listed above, you should concentrate on crowd testing, exploratory testing; manual testing, and other testing methods that may be applicable to your application.
Conclusion
Due to technological advancements, clients may now launch 5G products more rapidly; and safely thanks to creative test and measurement solutions. With the most recent improvements, 5G mmWave and NR sub-6-GHz signals can be produced and analyzed.
The importance of testing for volume production and design validation increases as mobile technology develops. Device OEMs and Network operators must able to assess and certify the performance and reliability traits of devices and base stations in settings that comparable to those in which they actually utilized. With its projected usage of terahertz frequencies; or the potential for new, extremely efficient channel encoding, and the use of advanced antenna mesh technology; 6G will undoubtedly present even more complexity and obstacles.
Author Bio
Bala SubbaRao is a highly skilled digital marketer and writer at MindMajix, a leading global provider of online technology training. He has extensive expertise in a range of cutting-edge IT technologies, including Business Intelligence, Salesforce, Cybersecurity; Software Testing, Data Analytics, Project Management, and ERP tools. With a strong passion for writing and a deep understanding of the tech industry; Bala is dedicated to providing his readers with insightful and informative content that is both educational and engaging.
