Lab For Rent: The Rise Of Lab as a Service

By John Oncea, Editor

Lab as a Service allows companies to rent laboratory infrastructure resulting in increased efficiency, reduced costs, and a higher quality of testing.

Managed services is a business model in which management of the whole service is provided by a dedicated company and often enhanced by technology solutions. More comprehensive than traditional outsourcing, managed services aim to improve operations while reducing expenses.

The most commonly thought of use of managed services is with IT. Here, a company outsources IT services to a managed service provider (MSP) which then acts as the hiring company’s IT department either wholly or in a supplemental fashion.

There are dozens of examples beyond MSPs including hiring a cleaning company instead of a janitor, office equipment purchasing, vehicle fleet maintenance, hiring, and human resources. You can outsource anything and find people who are willing to take your money to provide an agreed level of service. If you wanted, you could hire a guy to open the door to your building every day and that would be a managed service.

VIAVI’s announcement of its vendor-neutral, pay-as-you-go, fully automated, open, and impartial Lab-as-a-Service (LaaS) is an example of managed services making its way into the RF industry. VIAVI expects its lab to address the challenges to accelerate Open RAN adoption and encourage competition by providing access to test capabilities that, typically, have only been within the reach of large, established players.

Located in Chandler, AR, VIAVI’s LaaS – branded as VALOR – “Is an important step in democratizing Open RAN testing for technology vendors by providing them with rapid access to comprehensive end-to-end solutions for everything from product development to performance stress tests,” said Oleg Khaykin, President and Chief Executive Officer, VIAVI. “Supporting the services of existing industry test labs, VALOR closes existing test gaps and is set to play a key role in accelerating Open RAN adoption and encouraging new entrants to the Open RAN ecosystem.”

VALOR is but a recent example of the increasing role LaaS is playing in helping companies increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the quality of tests performed.

A Closer Look At LaaS

The concept of Lab as a Service (LaaS) emerged alongside the growth of cloud computing, allowing users to access virtual laboratory environments on demand through the internet, eliminating the need for large up-front investments in physical hardware and infrastructure. According to The Service Innovation Lab, its roots can be traced back to the early development of remote access technology and the increasing adoption of cloud-based services, particularly in the IT sector, where the need for flexible testing environments became crucial.

Before the rise of the cloud, research institutions and companies often shared access to specialized equipment through collaborations or dedicated service providers, which laid the foundation for the concept of lab sharing. The rise of cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure enabled the provision of scalable computing power and virtualized environments, making it feasible to offer lab environments on demand.

Initially, LaaS gained traction primarily in the IT industry, allowing developers and testers to access virtualized network environments for software testing without having to manage physical hardware. As cloud technology matured, LaaS started to be applied in diverse areas like scientific research, biotechnology, and education, providing access to specialized equipment and data analysis tools through cloud-based platforms. Universities and research labs were among the first to explore cloud-based lab environments, leveraging the power of distributed computing for complex simulations and data analysis.

Today, LaaS solutions often include features like automated lab setup, data management tools, collaboration features, and flexible pricing models, enabling users to quickly spin up and access lab environments as needed. As it gains traction, industry standards and regulations are being developed to ensure data security and compliance in various sectors, particularly in healthcare and life sciences.

By eliminating the need for expensive hardware and maintenance, LaaS has significantly reduced the cost barrier to accessing advanced laboratory capabilities for businesses and researchers.

How LaaS Is Being Used In RF

LaaS is allowing businesses to utilize specialized equipment and technical knowledge for their RF testing needs without having to invest in a dedicated lab or hire a full-time RF engineer. This includes access to high-end RF testing equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, antenna measurement systems, and anechoic chambers – all without the large up-front cost. 

Along with lab access, LaaS providers offer technical support from experienced RF engineers who can assist with test setup, data analysis, and troubleshooting. Many LaaS providers are accredited by regulatory bodies, enabling companies to ensure their devices meet necessary RF compliance standards for market access. 

Companies can choose to utilize the lab for short-term projects or ongoing testing needs, depending on their project requirements. Typical services offered by an RF Lab as a Service provider:

• RF power measurements: Testing the transmit power of wireless devices to ensure they comply with regulatory limits. 
• Antenna pattern measurements: Evaluating the radiation pattern of antennas to optimize their performance. 
• Conducted emissions testing: Assessing the level of RF signals conducted through cables from a device. 
• Radiated emissions testing: Evaluating the level of RF signals radiated from a device into the environment. 
• Coexistence testing: Assessing how a device interacts with other wireless signals in the same frequency band 

Companies contracting with LaaS providers include those developing new wireless products and need access to specialized testing facilities without significant up-front investment. Companies with occasional RF testing needs that don’t justify the cost of a dedicated lab and businesses that need technical support from experienced RF engineers to navigate complex testing procedures are also enlisting the services of LaaS.

Renting Lab Space

Companies that provide LaaS offer everything from access to equipment to expert technical support. Many LaaS providers are accredited by regulatory bodies, enabling companies to ensure their devices meet necessary RF compliance standards for market access.

Companies can choose to utilize the lab for short-term projects or ongoing testing needs, depending on their project requirements to test the transmit power of wireless devices to ensure they comply with regulatory limits, evaluate the radiation pattern of antennas to optimize their performance, assess the level of RF signals conducted through cables from a device or of signals radiated from a device into the environment, and assess how a device interacts with other wireless signals in the same frequency band.

Companies with these needs are contracting with LaaS providers such as RF Safety Lab which offers a comprehensive suite of services for RF exposure and SAR testing and provides full-service testing for product development and expertise in FCC SAR testing and compliance among other services.

Verizon’s Labs as a Service helps businesses with troubleshooting new and emerging connected technologies, conducting proof-of-concept testing, access to industry experts with extensive experience, robust testing and validation environments in world-class facilities, and testing on Verizon’s commercial and private infrastructure and licensed spectrum.

F2 Labs specializes in EMI/RFI and radio frequency testing services, offering design review and debugging, documentation and consulting services, and medical device, product safety, FCC, CE mark, and UL/CSA standard testing and certification.

Finally, RF Exposure Lab, an independent A2LA Accredited SAR testing facility, provides SAR testing and accredited reporting, design suggestions to ensure product compliance, and testing for various wireless devices including cell phones, laptops, tablets, and medical devices.

These providers offer a range of services to support RF product development, testing, and certification, catering to different needs within the RF industry.

The Rapid Growth Of LaaS

LaaS is a rapidly growing concept in the RF industry, allowing companies to access sophisticated testing, development, and research capabilities on-demand, without the heavy up-front costs of building and maintaining a laboratory. It is a powerful model that provides access to high-quality, flexible, and cost-effective testing and development resources. By removing the barriers of owning expensive equipment and lab facilities, it allows RF engineers and companies to focus on innovation and rapid product development, while reducing both time and capital investment.