When it comes to advancing automotive safety, Rohde Schwarz eCall testing technologies have just taken a massive leap forward. In a critical development for the global automotive industry, Rohde & Schwarz has successfully achieved official certification for its highly anticipated hybrid and Next Generation (NG) eCall test solutions. This rigorous certification testing was conducted by cetecom advanced, a globally recognized and independent test laboratory renowned for evaluating communication, automotive, medical, and payment technologies.
For engineers, automakers, and tech enthusiasts tracking the latest telematics trends on aarokatech.com, this announcement represents a pivotal moment in vehicle connectivity. The certification confirms that the Rohde & Schwarz CMX500 radio communication tester, when equipped with newly updated eCall software options, fully complies with the absolute latest European eCall regulations and safety standards.
Understanding the Shift to Next Generation eCall (NG eCall)
The traditional European eCall system—a mandatory, life-saving feature designed to automatically dial emergency services in the event of a severe crash—relied heavily on legacy 2G and 3G circuit-switched (CS) networks. However, as telecommunications providers globally begin to sunset these older network infrastructures to make way for modern spectrums, the automotive sector must actively migrate to Next Generation eCall.
NG eCall leverages advanced IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technologies, transmitting both voice and critical telemetry data over robust 4G LTE and 5G packet-switched networks. This modern approach allows for significantly faster connection setup times, crystal-clear Voice over New Radio (VoNR) and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) audio quality, and the ability to transmit richer data sets to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). A fully certified Rohde Schwarz eCall testing platform ensures that an automaker’s In-Vehicle Systems (IVS) correctly implement these complex IP-based protocols without encountering fatal communication errors.
The Complexity of Hybrid eCall Systems
While NG eCall clearly represents the future of telematics, we currently exist in a transitional period. A vehicle might travel from a dense urban area with flawless 5G coverage into a rural mountain pass where only legacy 2G networks remain active. This geographical reality necessitates the implementation of “hybrid eCall” systems.
According to the newly published EN 18052 specification, a hybrid system must flawlessly combine multiple transmission paths and communication protocols. If an IP-based 4G/5G call fails due to poor cellular coverage or degraded service quality, the vehicle’s onboard modem must automatically execute a seamless circuit-switched fallback to a 2G or 3G transport path to ensure the emergency call connects.
Validating these hybrid implementations is an incredibly difficult engineering challenge. Automakers must mathematically prove that their vehicles can reliably trigger an emergency call, accurately transmit the Minimum Set of Data (MSD)—which includes precise GNSS positioning, vehicle type, and heading—and maintain highly intelligible voice quality across dynamic network environments. This is precisely where the newly certified Rohde & Schwarz testing environment shines. The system demonstrates that a vehicle’s hardware remains robust during difficult network handovers, ensuring compliance with relevant CEN, ETSI, 3GPP, and national safety requirements.
Exploring the CMX500 Radio Communication Tester
At the core of this newly certified solution is the R&S CMX500 radio communication tester. To meet the stringent new European mandates, Rohde & Schwarz significantly updated its eCall evaluation suites.
- CMX-KA099 Option: This specialized software upgrade focuses directly on hybrid network requirements. It successfully completed all PSAP test scenarios dictated by the EN 18052:2025 standard, confirming its ability to accurately emulate complex fallback network scenarios.
- CMX-KA098 Option: Focused strictly on pure NG eCall protocol compliance, this module passed the rigorous PSAP testing scenarios required by the EN 17240:2024+A1:2026 standard.
By integrating these software options, the CMX500 transforms into a comprehensive all-in-one laboratory capable of simulating real-world mobile network conditions directly from the R&D bench.
Accelerating Automotive Compliance and Safety
Thomas Reschka, Senior Technical Consultant at cetecom advanced, emphasized the overarching importance of this hardware and software certification. “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,” he noted.
For automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, having direct access to a certified Rohde Schwarz eCall testing environment is a massive operational advantage. It effectively removes the guesswork from the regulatory approval process. By simulating exact real-world conditions and emulating various network topologies during the early development phase, manufacturers can identify protocol errors early, avoid costly late-stage redesigns, and dramatically accelerate the time-to-market for new vehicle models.
Ultimately, this strategic collaboration between Rohde & Schwarz and cetecom advanced empowers the entire automotive industry. It ensures the rapid, seamless adoption of next-generation communication tools that prioritize driver safety above all else, ensuring that when an emergency happens, the call always goes through.
