An over-the-air measurement system for testing the over-the-air characteristics of a device under test is described, comprising several antenna units for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, several remote radio units that convert radio frequency signals into digital signals or vice versa, and a baseband unit for generating and analyzing baseband signals. The baseband unit is connected to the remote radio units, the baseband unit having at least one physical layer control unit that is configured to adapt the over-the-air measurement system with regard to the physical layer. The several antenna units are connected to the remote radio units. Further, a method for testing the over-the-air characteristics of a device under test is described.