HiperMAN / WiMAX Testing

High Performance Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) provide broadband Wireless DSL, while covering a large geographic area. The standardization focuses on frequency bands below 11 GHz and is optimised for packet switched networks supporting fixed and nomadic applications.
The primary feature of the HIPERMAN system to distinguish it from competitive proprietary systems is the level of interoperability that is offered.  This will lead to greater acceptance of radio based broadband access networks than with the proprietary systems that are being brought to the market.  This advantage can only be realised if appropriate broad conformance test specifications are available soon after the equipment standard is completed.

The HiperMAN specifications are being developed by ETSI technical committee Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN).  These are developed in cooperation with IEEE 802.16, such that the HiperMAN standard and a subset of the IEEE 802.16a-2003 standard will interoperate seamlessly.   ETSI BRAN is working with WiMAX Forum, the industry forum promoting IEEE802.16/HiperMAN technology and contributing expertise to the certification scheme that will assure the interoperability of IEEE802.16/HiperMAN devices.
To accelerate the HiperMAN test specifications, ETSI and WiMAX Forum are jointly funding the work of a Specialist Task Force (STF 252).  In order to ensure the interoperability of HiperMAN/WiMAX devices in a multi-region, multi-operator environment, nearly 900 protocol and signalling test cases are being specified. WiMAX Forum is planning to use around 400 test cases, which are being written in TTCN-3 (Test and Test Control Notation). The TTCN-3 test cases specified are independent of the underlying HiperMAN/WiMAX system simulator platforms and can be compiled by using different TTCN-3 compilers. STF 252 develops, maintains and delivers the PICS and TSS&TP documents as well as TTCN-3 test cases. The test cases are applied to different frequency bands