eCall, the automatic emergency call system for vehicles sold within the European Union, was introduced in 2015 and has been a mandatory requirement for all new cars in the EU since 2018. eCall systems currently make use of 2G/3G circuit-switched cellular networks. As these networks will be phased out in just a few years, emergency call systems (in-vehicle systems and infrastructure) will be adapted to the newest 4G/5G packet-switched cellular networks.

The European Commission initiative to update the eCall standards and legislation to transition eCall to 4G and 5G networks is already active. The automotive industry needs NGeCall test solutions to deliver eCall modules that include the new NGeCall functions. The modules have to comply with Technical Specification CEN TS17240, which refers to the protocol conformance test cases and specifies additional end-to-end conformance test cases for eCall as stipulated by 3GPP and the Internet Engineering Task Force.

In July 2023, test case package PCT5-KC625, which runs on the R&S CMX500, was released, and the test cases were validated by the GCF meeting. This set the foundation for NGeCall module manufacturers to meet the test requirements for successful NGeCall type approval. The new software package R&S CMX-KA098 for the R&S CMX500 comes with an integrated public safety answering point (PSAP) for 5G NGeCall. It supplements the test package with additional test functions for carrying out end-to-end conformance tests according to CEN TS17240.

For further information on eCall test solutions from Rohde & Schwarz, visit: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/eCall