Samsung has announced that it worked with Qualcomm to improve data transfer speeds on 5G cellular networks. The companies have used 3GPP Release 17’s new 1024 QAM feature to improve 5G speeds by up to 20%, bringing faster download speeds on smartphones.
Samsung and Qualcomm achieve fastest ever 5G download speeds with 20MHz bandwidth
As a part of this collaboration, the companies used Samsung Network’s 5G vRAN equipment running on 2.1GHz (FDD) and 3.5GHz (TDD) and a test smartphone using Qualcomm’s X75 5G modem. They achieved download speeds of 485Mbps with a 20MHz bandwidth. This is 20% faster than 256 QAM that is usually used on 5G networks. It is near theoretical download speed.
This is the first time these speeds have been achieved on an FDD band. Since this test was done on a single 20MHz band, a lot more speed can be achieved as most modern phones can combine several bands together through CA (Carrier Aggregation). The companies are also testing this technology on a network with traditional RAN equipment.
This technology is expected to be commercially available for network operators by the end of this year. Last year, Qualcomm and Samsung tested 4x downlink and 2x uplink carrier aggregation on FDD spectrum. Samsung Networks is among the world’s biggest cellular network equipment manufacturer, and it develops 5G Core, 5G vRAN, and AI-powered automation tools.
Samsung Networks VP Ji-Yun Seol, said, “We believe enhancing spectral efficiency is essential in developing next-generation solutions. This achievement underscores Samsung’s ongoing commitment to push forward the frontiers of mobile technology. Our collaborative efforts with Qualcomm Technologies have once again yielded impressive results, and we look forward to harnessing our combined expertise to drive network innovation.“