Several global wireless network operators have selected the Snapdragon X50 5G modem chipset of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for us in live, over-the-air mobile 5G NR trials in both the sub-6GHz and millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum bands.

AT&T, British Telecom, China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, KDDI, KT Corporation, LG Uplus, NTT DOCOMO, Orange, Singtel, SK Telecom, Sprint, Telstra, TIM, Verizon and Vodafone Group will conduct the trials, which will be based on the 3GPP Release 15 5G NR standard. The trials will make use of Qualcomm Technologies' 5G mobile test platform and smartphone reference design, which incorporate the Snapdragon X50 chipset and optimize 5G technology within the power and form factor constraints of a smartphone while maintaining interoperability and coexistence with 4G LTE.

The planned trials underscore the readiness of Qualcomm Technologies' mobile 5G NR solution in a smartphone form factor and aim to commercialize standard-compliant 5G NR products and services over the coming year.

At this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, Qualcomm will showcase the Snapdragon X50 5G modem, achieving download speeds of several gigabits per second and highlight new use cases and enhanced user experiences that 5G technology will enable. In addition, Qualcomm Technologies will demonstrate 5G NR interoperability, based on the 5G NR standard, with multiple infrastructure vendors utilizing our cutting-edge prototype systems. This steady progress will culminate in live 5G NR trials with leading operators in late 2018 or early 2019, that will lead to commercial 5G NR network deployments and multimode smartphone launches anticipated in 2019.

Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem family has also been selected by a number of global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for standard-compliant 5G NR mobile device product launches starting in 2019. Those working with Qualcomm Technologies include OEMs such as Asus, Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Connected Technologies Limited, HMD Global – the home of Nokia phones, HTC, Inseego/Novatel Wireless, LG, NetComm Wireless, NETGEAR, OnePlus, OPPO, Sharp Corporation, Sierra Wireless, Sony Mobile, Telit, vivo, Wingtech, WNC, Xiaomi and ZTE.

These OEMs are working to commercialize 5G mobile devices for the sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrum bands starting in 2019 based on the first commercially announced 5G modem solution, the Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem family. 5G use cases include enhanced mobile broadband to smartphones; Always Connected PCs; head-mounted displays (HMD) for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR); and Mobile Broadband, all of which require constant and consistent cloud connectivity.