5G
20:58, 17-Oct-2017
Sooner than we thought, 5G dreams are becoming reality
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Qualcomm announced today that it has already completed the first 5G data connection test. With its 5G modem first introduced a year ago, the Snapdragon X50, the new modem could reach gigabit speeds by using the 28 GHz millimeter wave spectrum.
Additionally, Qualcomm also introduced its first 5G smartphone reference design. It will help guide phone makers to test 5G modems, radios and networks as they prepare to release 5G smartphones over the next year or two, said the company.
Qualcomm‘s 5G reference design/Engadget Photo
Qualcomm‘s 5G reference design/Engadget Photo
According to Qualcomm, the 5G specification could be completed “sooner than we thought before." While a 5G smartphone may be delayed until the first half of 2019, which is a full year later than Qualcomm initially intended. It is expected that the company will likely complete the first version by this December.
In order to make the Snapdragon X50 chip perform better in a smartphone, Qualcomm also developed a tiny millimeter wave antenna. The module is roughly the size of a nickel, which is significantly smaller than the traditional kind.
However, the company still aims to shrink its size by another 50 percent in order to make it fit into a variety of devices.
The X50 chip/Engadget Photo
The X50 chip/Engadget Photo
It seems that 5G technology is becoming much closer to something that consumers can actually use.
In fact, China has invested a lot in R&D of 5G technology in recent years.
According to Stefan Pongratz, senior director at the Dell’Oro Group and FierceWireless contributor, China will be among the first countries to widely deploy 5G technology and become the largest 5G infrastructure market by 2021.
China will be among the first countries to widely deploy 5G networks. /The Financial Express Photo
China will be among the first countries to widely deploy 5G networks. /The Financial Express Photo
As one of China's most famous tech companies, Huawei announced cooperation with Intel to verify the performance of key 5G New Radio technologies this October. It also announced at the MWC 2017 that it will partner with telecom operators to drive globally unified 5G standards.