PTCRB test plans: RF, OTA, IMS, data throughput

Author Hugues Orgitello Last updated 25 May 2026

PTCRB · Pillar

PTCRB test plans define all tests required for North American cellular certification. They combine and extend 3GPP specifications with operator-specific requirements. This page lists active 2026 test plans by category and cellular generation.

Test plan architecture

PTCRB publishes test plans organised by test category. For complete certification of a 4G LTE cellular module, the file typically cites 6 to 10 different test plans, each covering a specific category.

Category	Test plan	Base source
RF Conformance	TP-RF (different versions per technology)	3GPP TS 36.521, TS 38.521
OTA	TP-OTA (based on CTIA)	CTIA Test Plan
IMS / VoLTE	TP-IMS	3GPP TS 24.229
Inter-Operability	TP-IOT	Operators
Data Throughput	TP-DTM	Application tests
Battery	TP-Battery	Battery tests
Service	TP-Service (eCall, AGPS, etc.)	3GPP + ETSI

Test plans are updated approximately twice a year to integrate 3GPP release evolutions and new operator requirements.

RF Conformance, the 3GPP basis

RF Conformance tests verify the module respects 3GPP technical requirements on target bands. For 4G LTE, 3GPP TS 36.521 defines the complete suite:

Transmitter tests (TS 36.521-1, section 6)

Test	Description	Typical limit
Maximum Output Power	Max transmission power per band/channel	23 dBm ± 2.7 dB
Frequency Error	Frequency stability error	± 0.1 ppm
Modulation Quality (EVM)	Error Vector Magnitude	≤ 17% for QPSK
ACLR	Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio	-28 dBc
Spectrum Emission Mask	Out-of-channel emission mask	Per-band definitions
Spurious Emissions	Stray emissions	-30 dBm typical
Transmit OFF Power	Residual power off-transmission	-57 dBm/MHz

Receiver tests (TS 36.521-1, section 7)

Test	Description	Typical limit
Reference Sensitivity	Reference sensitivity per band	-94 to -100 dBm depending on band
Maximum Input Level	Maximum input level	-25 dBm
Adjacent Channel Selectivity	Adjacent channel selectivity	33 dB
In-Band Blocking	In-band blocking	-56 dBm
Out-of-Band Blocking	Out-of-band blocking	Variable per band
Spurious Response	Spurious response	-44 dBm
Intermodulation	3rd-order intermodulation	-46 dBm

For 5G NR, 3GPP TS 38.521 applies, with additional tests for 5G novelties (beam management, NSA/SA, mmWave).

RRM tests (Radio Resource Management)

The module must also pass RRM tests (TS 36.521-3 for LTE) which verify behaviour in radio resource management:

Mobility and handovers
Cell selection / reselection
Carrier aggregation
Discontinuous reception (DRX)
Power control

These tests are long (typically 2-3 days in the lab) because they require simulating complex network scenarios.

OTA: Over-The-Air

OTA tests measure the radio performance of the complete product in its enclosure, antennas included. CTIA-defined methodologies adopted by PTCRB.

TRP: Total Radiated Power

Measures total radiated power by the product in all directions:

Measurement in CTIA chamber (5 m, full sphere)
3D sampling of radiation pattern
Integration to obtain TRP in dBm

OTA TRP limits depend on band and form factor:

Smartphone: TRP ≥ +14 dBm typical in 4G LTE B2/B4
IoT module: TRP ≥ +12 dBm (more permissive)
Wearable: TRP ≥ +8 dBm (very small form factor)

TIS: Total Isotropic Sensitivity

Measures total isotropic sensitivity of the receiver:

Measurement of reception performance across the sphere
Integration to obtain TIS in dBm

Typical TIS limits:

Smartphone: TIS ≤ -94 dBm in 4G LTE
IoT module: TIS ≤ -90 dBm

EIS: Effective Isotropic Sensitivity (5G mmWave)

For 5G mmWave, EIS partly replaces TIS as patch antennas are not omnidirectional. The measurement accounts for beam management.

IMS / VoLTE / VoNR

IMS tests validate voice over IP on cellular network:

VoLTE (Voice over LTE): voice over 4G network
VoNR (Voice over NR): voice over 5G SA network
Wi-Fi Calling, voice over Wi-Fi with cellular fallback

Included tests:

Call setup and release
Call hold during handovers
Audio quality (objective and subjective)
Emergency handling (911)
SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity)
E911, emergency call location

Typical IMS cost: $10,000 to $25,000 for complete certification.

Inter-Operability and Data Throughput

Inter-Operability (IOT)

Interoperability tests with real operator base stations. Distinct from lab tests, they verify behaviour in plausible network conditions:

Pre-tests in operator network (typically Field Trial)
Coexistence tests with other bands
Technology transition tests (4G → 5G fallback)

Data Throughput

Throughput performance tests in typical scenarios:

Peak downlink throughput
Peak uplink throughput
Throughput in degraded conditions (cell edge)
End-to-end latency

These tests are important for high-throughput devices (smartphones, hotspots) but often lightened for low-throughput IoT modules (Cat-M, NB-IoT).

Battery

Battery tests verify autonomy and consumption:

Idle autonomy
Active communication autonomy (voice, data)
Typical consumption per 3GPP mode (PSM, eDRX for IoT)
PTCRB Battery Compliance Documentation conformity

Particularly important for long-autonomy IoT devices (battery sensors, solar equipment) where extended PSM/eDRX tests are necessary.

Service-specific tests

By service profile, additional tests:

eCall (automotive)

For modules intended for automotive eCall (mandatory in Europe, under adoption in North America):

eCall in-band modem tests
Dedicated eCall SIM management
Automatic activation in case of accident
Pre-listening and voice conversation

Assisted GPS / Network-Based Location

For location services:

A-GPS / A-GNSS assisted
Network-based location (CID, RSSI)
LPP (LTE Positioning Protocol)
Indoor performance

M2M / IoT specific tests

For specific M2M modules:

AT command compliance
Configuration over-the-air
Automatic provisioning

Test plans by generation

Quick reference table:

Technology	Main 2026 test plans
2G	TP-RF GSM (legacy), TP-OTA
3G UMTS	TP-RF UMTS (legacy, limited)
4G LTE Cat-1+	TP-RF LTE, TP-OTA, TP-IMS if voice, TP-Service per profile
4G Cat-M	TP-RF Cat-M, simplified TP-OTA, essential TP-Battery
4G NB-IoT	TP-RF NB-IoT, essential TP-Battery
5G NSA	TP-RF 5G NSA, TP-OTA, TP-IMS if VoNR, TP-Service
5G SA	TP-RF 5G SA, TP-OTA, TP-IMS VoNR
5G mmWave	TP-RF 5G mmWave, TP-OTA mmWave (EIS methods)

Test platforms

PTCRB labs use 3GPP-certified platforms:

Anritsu MD8475A (legacy), ME7834NR (5G NR)
Rohde & Schwarz CMW500 (4G/5G NSA), CMX500 (5G SA + NR)
Keysight UXM 5G (E7515B)
Spirent / Octoscope for OTA tests

Platform choice depends on operator and technology. The tested module must be able to directly interact with these platforms via its AT command set.

In summary

PTCRB test plans cover six main categories (RF, OTA, IMS, IOT, Data, Battery) plus service-specific plans. For a complete cellular product:

Count 6-10 distinct test plans to pass
Lab timing: 6-12 weeks depending on complexity
Cost: $40k-200k depending on technologies

For practical implementation, see PTCRB procedure and Required tests.

Sources & references

PTCRB Test Plans , PTCRB www.ptcrb.com/
3GPP Test Specifications , 3GPP www.3gpp.org/
CTIA Certification , CTIA ctiacertification.org/