T-Mobile in partnership with Qualcomm and Ericsson has achieved the world’s first low-band 5G data session on a commercial 5G modem. The data session was conducted in T-Mobile’s lab in Bellevue, Washington on 600 MHz spectrum – the same spectrum T-Mobile is using to roll out broad, nationwide 5G in the U.S. – marking a major milestone in delivering 5G across America beyond urban areas.
The data session was completed on a mobile test device powered by the second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G modem, RF transceiver and RF Front-End (RFFE) solution, as well as commercial 5G radios from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio. The demonstration is an important step toward the launch of the first commercial 5G network using low-band spectrum.
According to Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer at T-Mobile, this modem will power devices that tap into the 600 MHz low-band spectrum T-Mobile will use to blanket the country with 5G. And if US regulators approve the company’s merger with Sprint, they’ll have the crucial mid-band spectrum and resources needed to supercharge their network and deliver broad AND deep, transformational 5G across the U.S.
T-Mobile’s 600 MHz low-band spectrum will offer several unique advantages as the foundation for its 5G network, including wider coverage area and deeper signal penetration in buildings than millimeter wave spectrum. The telecom giant’s low-band deployment strategy will enable the rapid expansion of its 5G network by allowing the Un-carrier to easily leverage existing 4G LTE assets and infrastructure.
Similarly, along with bringing low-band support to mobile devices, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G modem offers advanced multi-mode support for virtually any combination of spectrum bands and modes, including mmWave, sub-6 GHz, standalone and non-standalone, and more – ensuring mobile devices powered by the Snapdragon X55 5G modem and RFFE solutions are compatible with current and future multi-mode 5G networks rolling out around the globe.
