Introduction to Qualcomm 5G modem
The Qualcomm 5G modem is a revolutionary mobile broadband platform that redefines the standards of performance and size. It enables service providers to deploy a wide range of new consumer and enterprise services with significantly improved performance compared with existing LTE networks. The Qualcomm 5G modem family, which includes the Snapdragon X50 and Snapdragon X55, is designed for mobile devices and everything from mobile networks to fixed wireless access. It also makes a powerful play in the automotive market, where the integration of 5G with vehicles will make driving safer, more enjoyable and connected than ever before. Qualcomm’s fifth-generation LTE modem is our first commercial 5G mobile device solution, intended to be used with a 5G licensed-band radio transceiver. It is designed to deliver peak theoretical download speeds of up to 2 Gbits/s and peak upload speeds of 1 Gbit/s over the 5G NR mmWave band in non-standalone (NSA) mode and very high throughput 4G LTE network operations in standalone (SA) mode through a single combined Snapdragon chipset solution. Qualcomm’s fifth generation 5G modem, the Snapdragon X55 5G Mobile Platform, is designed to provide faster download and upload speeds. This new mobile platform has been engineered in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI) and provides exceptional peak speed, network capacity, and coverage while conforming to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 16 specifications. The Snapdragon X55 supports up to 6-channel carrier aggregation on both the uplink and downlink; sub 6-MHz bands for greater bandwidth efficiency; MIMO support for up to 64 spatial streams on downlink transmissions; 4×4 MIMO operation on both uplink and downlink configurations; dual SIM support; full mobility from edge compute cloud processing, accelerating edge computing applications such as video streaming; LWA for extended coverage (up to 1 km more than mmWave); and multiGNSS/QZSS support. The Qualcomm® modems based on the Snapdragon™ X50 5G modem are designed for enterprises and mobile operators that are building a foundation for a true 5G IoT Ready ecosystem. With its advanced 5G NR capabilities, Snapdragon X50 5G modem provides businesses with a variety of connectivity options and support from the leaders in small cells and millimeter wave radios. By combining our leading 4G LTE technologies with the industry’s first multimode 5G NR modem solution, Snapdragon X50 5G Modem is designed to deliver next-generation advancements in performance and capabilities, including support for mmWave spectrum bands above 6GHz. The Qualcomm X50 5G modem is designed to deliver robust end-to-end 5G communication experiences, including high user throughput and consistent low latency. It brings together best-in-class capabilities across multiple components onboard, enabling an easy and consistent platform for mobile and broadband industries to develop products that utilize next generation mobile services. The Qualcomm 5G modem is designed to support mobile and edge applications for the next generation of 5G networks. It features a software-programmable, flexible architecture with integrated DSP capabilities that support both Cat-19 and Cat-20 devices, enabling you to address network capacity in both licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands. It also supports multiple modes of operation across all bands, which enables you to optimize your 5G strategy over time based on market conditions and device use cases. The Qualcomm 5G modem is the world’s first wireless chip to support sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave bands for 5G connectivity, as well as interworking with 3GPP standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) NR deployments. The QTM525 5G modem chipset is compatible with Category M1, N3 and N0 modes of operation, enabling operators and OEMs to launch commercial services immediately on new 5G NR devices without having to wait for NSA specifications to be finalized.
