Qualcomm Technologies announces a commercial 5G modem chipset solution

In a Thursday announcement, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. - a Qualcomm Incorporated subsidiary - introduced a new chipset solution --- the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G modem.

The announcement of the Snapdragon X50 5G modem makes Qualcomm the first chip-making company to launch a commercial 5G modem chipset solution. The modem has specifically been designed for supporting original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that are working next-generation cellular devices, along with helping operators with early 5G trials and deployments.

Sampling for the Snapdragon X50 5G modem will likely commence in the last six months of 2017; with the first commercial products integrating the modem expected to hit the markets in the first half of 2018.

The Snapdragon X50 5G modem has been designed for use for both multi-mode 4G/5G mobile broadband and fixed wireless broadband devices. It has the capability to be paired with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with an integrated Gigabit LTE modem.

Initially, the Snapdragon X50 5G modem will support operation in millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum in the 28GHz band; utilizing Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna technology with adaptive beamforming as well as beam tracking techniques.

Highlighting the fact that the Snapdragon X50 5G modem will utilize Qualcomm's "long history of LTE and Wi-Fi leadership," Cristiano Amon - Qualconn Technologies' Executive Vice President - said that the company is "thrilled to deliver a product that will help play a critical role in bringing 5G devices and networks to reality."