Qualcomm today introduced the world’s first fully-integrated 5G NR millimeter wave (mmWave); QTM052 mmWave and QPM56xx sub-6 GHz RF modules for smartphones and other mobile devices. These modules pair with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G modem to deliver modem-to-antenna capabilities across several spectrum bands.
Qualcomm says that to date, mmWave signals have not been used for mobile wireless communications due to the many technical and design challenges they pose. However, the QTM052 mmWave antenna modules work in tandem with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem. They support advanced beam forming, beam steering, and beam tracking technologies, drastically improving the range and reliability of mmWave signals.
It features an integrated 5G NR radio transceiver, power management IC, RF front-end components and phased antenna array and support up to 800 MHz of bandwidth in the 26.5-29.5 GHz (n257), as well as the entire 27.5-28.35 GHz (n261) and 37-40 GHz (n260) mmWave bands.
The QPM56xx RF module family (including the QPM5650, QPM5651, QDM5650, and QDM5652) is designed to allow smartphones based on the Snapdragon X50 5G modem to support 5G NR in sub-6 GHz RF bands. The QPM5650 and QPM5651 feature integrated 5G NR PA/LNA/Switch and filtering subsystem, while the QDM5650 and QDM5652 feature integrated 5G NR LNA/switch and filtering subsystem for diversity and MIMO support.
Qualcomm says that all four modules offer integrated SRS switching required for optimum massive MIMO applications and support for 3.3-4.2 GHz (n77), 3.3-3.8 GHz (n78) and 4.4-5.0 GHz (n79) sub-6 bands. Both the QTM052 mmWave antenna module family and the QPM56xx sub-6 GHz RF module family are now being sampled to OEMs and might be available as early as 2019.
Cristiano Amon, President, Qualcomm Incorporated said:
Today’s announcement of the first commercial 5G NR mmWave antenna modules and sub-6 GHz RF modules for smartphones and other mobile devices represents a major milestone for the mobile industry.
Qualcomm Technologies’ early investment in 5G has allowed us to deliver to the industry a working mobile mmWave solution that was previously thought unattainable, as well as a fully-integrated sub-6 GHz RF solution. Now, these type of modem-to-antenna solutions, spanning both mmWave and sub-6 spectrum bands, make mobile 5G networks and devices, especially smartphones, ready for large-scale commercialization. With 5G, consumers can expect gigabit-class Internet speeds with unprecedented responsiveness in the palm of their hands, which stand to revolutionize the mobile experience.