Qualcomm Announces Successful Data Calls Using 5G mmWave and Sub-6 GHz Aggregation

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced the completion of 5G data calls that successfully combine millimeter wave (mmWave) with FDD or TDD sub-6GHz spectrum by utilizing 5G Standalone (SA) mode Dual Connectivity. Using the 4^th-generation Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X65 5G Modem-RF System and Qualcomm® QTM545 mmWave Antenna Module inside a smartphone form-factor device, Qualcomm Technologies’ engineers first aggregated 5G sub-6 GHz FDD with 28GHz mmWave spectrum, then 5G sub-6GHz TDD with 39GHz mmWave spectrum, demonstrating Snapdragon X65’s ability to aggregate low-/mid- and high-bands across key global combinations.

Why It’s Important: Spectrum aggregation, including dual connectivity using mmWave and sub-6 GHz frequencies, is critical to delivering multi-Gigabit speeds and the massive capacity required for a new generation of consumer and enterprise applications. Combining different types of radio spectrum will enable mobile 5G devices to wirelessly achieve wired broadband-class speeds, even in challenging conditions such as crowded venues and transit hubs, in addition to powering robust 5G fixed wireless access services in homes and small businesses.

Qualcomm Technologies achieved the mmWave/sub-6 GHz carrier aggregation milestones during data calls conducted on March 17, 2021. Smartphone form-factor devices equipped with the Snapdragon X65 successfully made data connections using 5G Network Emulation Solutions from Keysight Technologies, demonstrating the global compatibility and interoperability of Qualcomm Technologies’ solutions with 5G standalone networks that are already being deployed across the globe.

Qualcomm Technologies has led the world in 5G millimeter wave development and commercialization and is already sampling its 4^th-generation mmWave chipset for smartphones. The company’s latest 5G modem-RF system, Snapdragon X65, is the world’s first to offer peak speeds up to 10 Gbps– a hundred times those of 1^st-generation 4G modems.

According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association, there are more than 100 commercial and pre-commercial 5G mmWave devices ranging from phones and PCs to mobile hotspots, modules, and consumer premises equipment (CPEs). Virtually all of these devices are powered by the Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems.

The Snapdragon X65 and Qualcomm QTM545 mmWave Antenna Module are currently sampling to customers, with commercial devices expected to launch later in 2021. For technical details please visit the Snapdragon X65 and QTM545 webpages. The Company’s ‘What’s Next in 5G’ video series offers an overview of these 4^th-generation mmWave solutions, including what they mean for the industry and the world. 

About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator and the driving force behind the development, launch, and expansion of 5G.  When we connected the phone to the internet, the mobile revolution was born. Today, our foundational technologies enable the mobile ecosystem and are found in every 3G, 4G, and 5G smartphone. We bring the benefits of mobile to new industries, including automotive, the internet of things, and computing, and are leading the way to a world where everything and everyone can communicate and interact seamlessly.

Source Qualcomm Press Release