Integrating Hybrid eCall Test Systems for Vehicle Type Approval

Anritsu Corporation and BMW Group have collaborated to validate in-vehicle emergency call systems against the latest European Hybrid eCall standards. The technical verification ensures compliance with EN 18052:2025 requirements for emergency call services operating across both circuit-switched and packet-switched mobile networks in the automotive industry.

Operational Challenges in Network Transition
The automotive sector faces a significant regulatory and technical transition as European emergency call infrastructure shifts from legacy circuit-switched networks to Next Generation eCall over IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) via packet-switched 4G/LTE networks. Vehicle manufacturers require a reliable method to verify that in-vehicle systems function seamlessly across both environments during this coexistence phase.

BMW Group utilized this cooperation to validate its upcoming vehicle platforms, including the Neue Klasse architecture and the iX3 model, ensuring future model lines comply with evolving type-approval mandates starting in 2026. The complexity of simulating dual-network environments required complementary expertise in wireless test engineering and automotive hardware integration.

Technical Verification Architecture
Anritsu Corporation supplied a comprehensive end-to-end eCall test solution designed to replicate both legacy 2G/3G circuit-switched and modern 4G/LTE packet-switched network infrastructure. The system evaluates the functional logic, connection stability, and data transmission capabilities of the in-vehicle system under realistic network conditions.

The testing architecture specifically validates conformity with EN 18052:2025, which dictates the performance parameters for Hybrid eCall services. By simulating IMS data transfers alongside traditional voice channels, the setup confirms that the vehicle can initiate emergency data transmissions regardless of the available cellular network topology.

Implementation and Safety Benefits
The deployment focused on verifying the performance of the BMW in-vehicle emergency call system under active Hybrid eCall operating conditions. Engineering teams integrated the test solution directly into the validation workflow of the vehicle's digital infrastructure, allowing for rigorous testing of the onboard telematics control units.

The primary operational benefit of this implementation is the guaranteed stability of the emergency communication link. By certifying that the vehicle software correctly interprets network availability and switches protocols without data loss, the system ensures reliable connection times and precise location data delivery to public safety answering points, thereby fulfilling strict European type-approval criteria.

Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.

www.anritsu.com