At MWC 19, Qualcomm has introduced its first 5G customer premise equipment (CPE) reference design for sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G fixed wireless broadband (FWB) products. The reference design features the newly announced second generation Snapdragon X55 5G modem and next generation Qualcomm RF front-end (RFFE) components and modules for sub-6 GHz and mmWave deployments, providing a comprehensive 5G modem-to-antenna solution.
With this reference design, manufacturers can quickly and cost effectively develop 5G FWB CPE devices, which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can use to serve customers using 5G infrastructure – making the coverage, performance and deployment flexibility of 5G a compelling backhaul alternative to fiber or cabled solutions. According to Durga Malladi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, 4G/5G, Qualcomm Technologies, with support for both mmWave and sub-6 GHz spectrum bands, manufacturers can address multiple operator’s needs as they look to improve network performance, increase range, provide an unsurpassed user experience, and expand fixed broadband coverage by taking advantage of 5G infrastructure.
Using the Snapdragon X55 modem along with the company's second generation mmWave and sub-6 GHz solutions, the CPE reference design supports backhaul connectivity over 5G in both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) network deployments, with fiber-like peak speeds up to 7Gbps. Additionally, the CPE reference design supports all major frequency bands, as well as both TDD and FDD modes of operations, – providing flexibility and enabling virtually all 5G-based deployment types globally.
The 5G CPE reference design, when paired with Qualcomm Technologies’ leading Wi-Fi Networking platforms, enables equipment manufacturers to deliver a complete home broadband gateway solution with performance rivaling passive-optical networking (PON), cable, and DSL broadband alternatives. With the Qualcomm IPQ807x Wi-Fi 6 Networking Platform, service providers can deliver the latest generation of high performance Wi-Fi networking to home devices paired with Qualcomm’s 5G wireless connectivity to the carrier network.
The reference design is engineered for high-power fixed wireless access 5G operation, allowing for extended coverage and superior performance compared to traditional mobile 5G. This improves the economics for ISPs by allowing them to serve more customers using 5G infrastructure – helping deliver increased deployment flexibility, cost-effectiveness and internet access performance comparable to fiber or cable. Fixed wireless provides operators a means to deliver gigabit speeds to their users using the same mobile wireless network they’re deploying for phones and without the need to lay out fiber to every house, dramatically accelerating the speed at which multi-gigabit internet speeds can be enabled for their customers.
Commercial 5G fixed wireless devices based on the Snapdragon X55 modem are expected to launch in the first half of 2020. Click here for more information on the company’s efforts on 5G NR.
Click here to see more updates from MWC 19 on everything RF.
