Qualcomm Incorporated announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), is expanding the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ X50 5G modem family to include 5G New Radio (NR) multi-mode chipset solutions compliant with the 3GPP-based 5G NR global system. Supporting operation in the sub-6 GHz and multi-band millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, these new modems are designed to provide a unified 5G design for all major spectrum types and bands while addressing a wide range of use cases and deployment scenarios. The Snapdragon X50 5G modem family is engineered to provide wider bandwidths and extreme speeds for enhanced mobile broadband. Additionally, the modem solutions are designed to support both Non-Standalone (NSA) operation (where control signaling is sent over LTE), and Standalone (SA) operation (where all control signaling and user data are sent over 5G NR), and are designed to enable the next generation of premium-tier mobile cellular devices, while also aiding operators to execute early 5G trials and deployments. Commercial products integrating 5G NR modems from the Snapdragon X50 family are expected to be available to support the first large-scale 5G NR trials and commercial network launches starting in 2019.
The new members of the Snapdragon X50 5G modem family are designed to support multi-mode 2G/3G/4G/5G functionality in a single chip, providing simultaneous connectivity across both 4G and 5G networks for robust mobility performance. The single chip solution also supports integrated Gigabit LTE capability, which has been pioneered by Qualcomm Technologies, and is an essential pillar for the 5G mobile experience as the high-speed coverage layer that co-exists and interworks with nascent 5G networks. This set of advanced multimode capabilities is designed to provide seamless Gigabit connectivity – a key requirement for next generation, premium smartphones and mobile computing devices.
The expanded Snapdragon X50 5G modem family builds on Qualcomm Technologies’ technology leadership with 5G NR prototype systems as well as joint tests and trials with leading network operators and network equipment vendors. This is exemplified by the recent announcement of its first 3GPP-based 5G NR Connection using Qualcomm Technologies’ sub-6 GHz 5G NR prototype, and which demonstrated some of the key technologies and system design principles expected to be part of the 5G NR system and specification, such as scalable OFDM-based waveforms to support wider bandwidths, reciprocity-based multi-user MIMO, advanced LDPC channel coding, adaptive self-contained TDD subframes, and a new flexible, low-latency slot structure.
The Snapdragon X50 5G modem family builds on Qualcomm Technologies’ long history of leadership in developing next-generation wireless technologies that contribute to and facilitate 3GPP standardization. As Qualcomm Technologies did with 3G, 4G and Gigabit LTE, the Company is working with leading network operators to ensure timely specification of 5G NR in 3GPP as well as commercial launches of 5G NR. The Snapdragon X50 5G family is designed to support these 5G NR features that are expected to bring connected consumer mobile broadband applications such as virtual reality, augmented reality and connected cloud computing to a whole new level.
“Qualcomm Technologies is leading the world to 5G by inventing and commercializing in the Snapdragon X50 5G family, key technologies that are critical to unlocking the full potential of next generation connected computing and consumer experiences in premium smartphones, portable PCs and new classes of mobile devices.” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and president, QCT. “Qualcomm Technologies’ 5G NR chipset solutions will enable operators and OEMs to accelerate the worldwide deployment of 5G NR, delivering multi-gigabit-per-second data rates at a significantly lower latency and a unified connectivity fabric to meet the increasing connectivity requirements for mission-critical services, enhanced mobile broadband, and the massive Internet of Things.”
The first commercial products featuring Snapdragon X50 5G NR modems are expected to be available in 2019.
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