Emergency call systems in cars are about to get a major upgrade, and the testing groundwork is already well underway. As Europe prepares to phase out 2G and 3G, Rohde & Schwarz has teamed up with Qualcomm to verify that next-generation eCall features can run smoothly over 4G and 5G networks.
In-vehicle eCall systems have been a standard feature in EU cars since 2018, quietly providing emergency connectivity when drivers need it most. But the original spec was built for circuit-switched cellular networks, namely, 2G and 3G. With those networks now winding down across the continent, a new spec had to be written.
Enter EN 17240:2024, a fresh standard designed for eCall systems running over IP-based 4G LTE and 5G NR networks. From January 2026, every new car sold in the EU will need to support it. That means not just a hardware refresh, but a complete change in how emergency call flows are handled - voice, GPS, and data all have to get through, reliably and fast.
To get ahead of the curve, Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm put Qualcomm’s Snapdragon® Auto 5G Modem-RF through its paces. The platform is already well-known for enabling fast telematics, precision GNSS, and V2X communication. Now it’s adding NG eCall to its capabilities.
The testing setup centred around the Rohde & Schwarz CMX500, a mobile radio tester designed to simulate real-world emergency call conditions, specifically, the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). With the CMX-KA098 software option, the team was able to verify eCall functionality on both ends of the connection, under both 4G and 5G scenarios.
The result? Qualcomm’s NG eCall implementation passed verification against EN 17240:2024.
This collaboration does more than just tick a compliance box. As vehicle connectivity moves deeper into 5G territory, features like eCall become part of a larger safety infrastructure. Rohde & Schwarz’s role here is key, not just as a test vendor, but as a partner helping accelerate time to market for next-gen vehicle systems.
“This joint effort sets a new benchmark,” said Juergen Meyer, VP Market Segment Automotive at Rohde & Schwarz. “It proves that NG eCall can work dependably over modern networks, and that it’s ready for scale.”
For developers, the CMX500 platform offers a versatile tool to replicate complex network conditions, validate behaviour, and close test loops early in the design cycle.
With 2026 on the horizon, expect to see more of this kind of cooperation, not just between chipmakers and test companies, but across the entire automotive value chain.
Learn more and read the original article on www.rohde-schwarz.com
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