As some carriers plan to roll out versions of 5G services by 2018, Qualcomm promises to deliver its first modem chip for the next generation of 5G cellular networks.
Qualcomm 5G Modem Announcement
According to The Wall Street Journal, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, Qualcomm Technologies, a subsidiary of San Diego-based company Qualcomm Inc., announced plans to deliver its first Snapdragon X50 5G modem chip by 2018. This announcement makes Qualcomm the first company to announce a commercial modem chipset solution for 5G future networks. The Snapdragon X50 is designed to support the next generation of cellular devices built by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Qualcomm 5G Modem Features
According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X50 5G modem will initially support operation in the 28GHz band, in a millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. The chipset will employ Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna technology with beam tracking techniques and adaptive beam forming. In non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments, this approach facilitates sustained and robust mobile broadband communications.
The Snapdragon X50 5G modem will come with 800 MHz bandwidth support, being designed to achieve peak download speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second. The modem will be used in fixed wireless broadband devices, as well as for multi-mode 4G/5G mobile broadband. Via dual connectivity, the Snapdragon X50 5G modem can be paired with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon processor with an integrated Gigabit LTE modem.
As it can provide a wide coverage layer for future 5G networks, tech experts predict that Gigabit LTE will become an essential pillar in the 5G mobile experience. As operators and OEMs reach the testing phase for cellular networks and devices, the Snapdragon X50 5G modem will facilitate the arrival of 5G, according to Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies.
He added that Qualcomm aims to deliver a product that will be critical in bringing 5G networks and devices to reality, based on company's long history of Wi-Fi and LTE leadership. The announcement of the new Snapdragon X50 5G modem shows that Qualcomm is truly committed to 5G. Enhanced mobile broadband supported by 5G will improve media generation and enhance media consumption, make it easier and cost-effective for multi-gigabit Internet service to reach businesses and homes.
