Ericsson, T-Mobile, and Qualcomm data session success moves towards 5G on low-band

Ericsson has again proven its 5G leadership by working with major industry partners to achieve a significant test landmark towards the launch of commercial 5G on low-band spectrum.

T-Mobile’s lab in Bellevue, Washington, was the scene of the success when Ericsson, T-Mobile, and Qualcomm Technologies completed the world’s first low-band 5G-New Radio (NR) data session on a commercial 5G modem.

The data session was conducted on 600 MHz band – the same spectrum T-Mobile plans to use to build is nationwide 5G network in the U.S.

The partner companies conducted the data session on a mobile test device powered by second-generation Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X55 5G modem with integrated Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver and RF Front-End (RFFE) solution, and commercial 5G radios from the Ericsson Radio System.

Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer, T-Mobile, says: “This is key step toward achieving our vision of 5G for All. This modem will power devices that tap into the 600 MHz low-band spectrum we’re using to blanket the country with 5G.”

Cristiano Amon, President, Qualcomm Incorporated, says the data call marks a significant milestone in 5G’s ongoing rollout across the United States, paving the way for the launch of commercial networks and devices on low-band FDD spectrum.

“This call demonstrates the ability to dramatically increase 5G’s global footprint and we look forward to continuing our work with industry leaders like Ericsson and T-Mobile to unlock the full potential of 5G for consumers and new industries around the world,” Amon says.

Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President, Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson, says: “Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies have successfully tested and commercialized 5G globally across different spectrum bands and, together with T-Mobile, we have now reached another major milestone as we are enabling 5G on low bands. This shows that our industry is now ready for building wider 5G coverage that will enhance end-user experience.”