Qualcomm launches the 5G Snapdragon X55 modem with speeds up to 7Gbps
Two years after Qualcomm introduced Snapdragon X50, the company’s first-generation modem with 5G connectivity, the chipmaker has now unveiled the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 – its 7Gbps 5G modem.
“Qualcomm Technologies is spearheading the first wave of 5G launches with our first generation 5G mobile platform. With significant evolution in capabilities and performance, our second generation commercial 5G modem is a true testament to the maturity and leadership of our 5G technology. We expect our 5G platform to accelerate 5G commercial momentum and power virtually all 5G launches in 2019 while significantly expanding the global 5G rollout footprint,” said Cristiano Amon, president of Qualcomm Incorporated.
The Snapdragon X55 is the world’s first 7 gigabits per second (Gbps) 5G modem and a successor to the world’s first 5G modem, the Snapdragon X50. The new modem can achieve download speeds up to 7 Gbps on the 5G network and upload speed up to 3 Gbps. It also supports 5G New Radio (NR) mmWave (high-bandwidth) and sub-6GHz (better coverage) spectrum bands. Further, it is a fully integrated modem, which is capable of supporting all existing network technologies such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G.
Another advantage of the Snapdragon X55 is that it allows the spectrum of 4G and 5G signals to be shared, which is very important during the transition period. It will use Qualcomm’s second-generation antennas, which are less than 8mm thick.
Further, the Snapdragon X55 supports the Category 22 LTE standard in 4G network. This allows it to achieve maximum download speeds up to 2.5Gbps, and upload up to 316Mbps on the 4G network. The Snapdragon X55 also features Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO) for LTE.
Developed with a 7nm process, the new modem is compatible with FDD, TDD, SA (standalone) and NSA (non-standalone) networks in the 5G spectrum. While the Snapdragon X55 is suitable for all types of mobile devices, it is also compatible with connected PCs, laptops, tablets, fixed wireless access points, extended reality devices, and automotive applications.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem is expected to be available to customers by the end of the year.
Source: Qualcomm
