By Sunil Patil
This year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai is a landmark event for Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and its partners, showcasing significant advancements in 5G technology that promise to reshape the landscape of mobile connectivity. Here, we delve into the groundbreaking achievements that were highlighted at the event, underscoring our leadership in 5G development and our commitment to enhancing mobile experiences across the globe.
Establishing China’s first 5G Advanced mmWave test platform
In a significant stride towards advancing 5G technology, Qualcomm Technologies, in collaboration with China Mobile Device Company, Xiaomi and Sky Limit Entertainment, announced the establishment of China’s first 5G Advanced (5G-A) mmWave test platform. This platform is based on a Xiaomi 14 Pro device and uses Snapdragon X75 — the world’s first 5G Advanced-ready Modem-RF System — marking a pivotal development in the deployment of 5G technologies. It will initially be applied to extended reality (XR) services and scenarios, particularly to support the verification of concurrent multi-user XR competitive gaming services at Sky Limit Entertainment’s SoReal Paradise in Shougang Park.
In a space of nearly 1,000 square meters, the 5G mmWave connection is expected to reach a latency of less than 10 milliseconds. Such a level of responsiveness allows for smooth XR experiences in the park — including backpack-free, cable-free and multi-user competitive gaming experiences in a large space.
The 5G-A mmWave test platform is not just a technological leap but also a catalyst for the creation of a robust device ecosystem. It is designed to adapt to diverse application scenarios, thereby accelerating the maturity and deployment of the 5G mmWave industry. This platform demonstrates the technological prowess of mmWave, which includes high-bandwidth, large capacity and low latency, empowering device original equipment manufacturers to forge new connectivity experiences across different segments.
Advancing mmWave and sub-6 GHz carrier aggregation with China Unicom
Another highlight from the congress was the demonstration of a 5G carrier aggregation across mmWave and sub-6 bands by China Unicom Research Institute and Qualcomm Technologies. This innovative 5G capability, tested in Chengdu, leverages carrier aggregation of:
800 MHz bandwidth in the 26 GHz high-frequency band and
100 MHz bandwidth in the 3.5 GHz low band.
The result? An astonishing peak downlink speed of more than 8.5 Gbps using a smartphone form-factor device powered by the Snapdragon X80 Modem-RF System.
This advancement not only enhances the efficiency of spectrum resource use but also supports the delivery of immersive experiences with 5G. The successful verification of this technology in a novel New Radio Carrier Aggregation (NR-CA) network architecture provides a blueprint for optimizing user experiences and reducing latency, setting a new standard for the global development and application of 5G technology.
Setting new benchmarks in Shenzhen with ZTE and China Unicom
In collaboration with ZTE Corporation and China Unicom Guangdong Branch, Qualcomm Technologies achieved another milestone by completing the commercial verification of 5G-Adownlink 4-Carrier Component Carrier Aggregation (4CC CA) capability in Shenzhen. This verification, which aggregated four carriers across 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands, utilized commercial 5G network equipment from ZTE and test devices equipped with Snapdragon X80. Field tests showed that single-user downlink data rates could reach 3.8 Gbps, significantly enhancing the performance over the existing 3.5 GHz single-carrier network.
Qualcomm leadership takes the stage
Among various sessions featuring speakers from Qualcomm, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Akash Palkhiwala, participated in a keynote session exploring the transformative capabilities of AI in computing. In conversation with Shaun Collins, Executive Chairman of CCS Insight, Akash reinforced Qualcomm’s position at the forefront of AI and 5G innovation and set the stage for the arrival of devices that integrate these advanced capabilities.
A focus of the discussion was the role of 5G-A in enabling the ambitious future of AI technology. Qualcomm’s advancements in 5G are pivotal, as illustrated by the recent collaborations showcased at the event. These breakthroughs underscore the essential nature of advanced connectivity in realizing the potential of AI, particularly in hybrid environments where seamless integration of on-device and cloud-based AI capabilities is crucial.
5G-A facilitates a more robust infrastructure for connected AI applications, enabling faster, more reliable connections that are essential for the real-time processing and analytics required by next-generation hybrid AI deployments.
Connectivity is not just a backbone but a catalyst for the expansive growth and integration of AI technologies across industries. The milestones displayed at MWC Shanghai 2024 are testaments to our leadership in 5G technology, showcase progress in AI addressing advanced connectivity needs — and bring the world closer to intelligent computing everywhere.
