Qualcomm has announced the world’s first successful connection to a 5G mobile chipset, demonstrated in collaboration with Verizon.
The demonstration used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem built into a reference-design smartphone. Qualcomm expects early commercial smartphones equipped with the X50 modem to connect to 5G during the initial service launches planned for the first half of 2019.
Unveiled at Qualcomm’s annual 5G summit in Hong Kong, the partnership with Verizon aims to bring 5G connectivity to consumers ahead of the broader rollout expected in 2020.
“Verizon has been working closely with Qualcomm Technologies and other technology leaders to accelerate a global 5G specification to help usher in the next generation of wireless innovation for customers,” said Ed Chan, senior vice president of technology strategy and planning at Verizon.
“With the collaboration we’re announcing today, we are taking the next logical step towards extending our leadership position in the advancement of 5G,” Chan added.
The initial deployments will focus on 5G NR operation in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz mmWave spectrum bands, targeting multi‑gigabit-per-second speeds.
“Qualcomm Technologies is committed to delivering 5G NR mmWave technologies to meet the ever‑increasing connectivity requirements for enhanced mobile broadband experiences,” said Joe Glynn, vice president of business development at Qualcomm.
Glynn added, “We are excited to collaborate with Verizon in making 5G NR mmWave a commercial reality for mobile devices, including fixed wireless home routers, mobile hotspots, tablets and smartphones.”
Speeds above one gigabit per second would create new possibilities for mobile and fixed broadband users. For example, a 1.2 Gbps connection could download a 60‑minute high‑quality video in roughly four seconds, illustrating how drastically content delivery times could shrink.
Real‑world trials are scheduled to begin in 2018, and continued testing and development will shape commercial availability and device support.
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