Qualcomm today announced a major step in the effort to bring 5G smartphones to market.
Qualcomm has introduced 5G NR millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-6GHz RF modules for smartphones. Specifically, the 5G NR mmWave antenna module is the QTM052, while the sub-6GHz RF module is the QPM56xx. Both module families pair with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem.
Digging into the QTM052 mmWave antenna module, Qualcomm explains that it works with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem to offer features like advanced beam forming, beam steering, and beam tracking tech, all of which combine to improve the range and reliability of mmWave signals, which are short range and aren't great at penetrating walls. And because the QTM052 is so small, up to four of them can be crammed into a smartphone.
Qualcomm says that its QTM052 mmWave antenna modules and QPM56xx sub-6GHz RF modules are now being sampled to customers. It's expected that devices with the QTM052 mmWave antenna module could begin launching in the first half of 2019.
mmWave spectrum will be utilized by carriers in their upcoming 5G networks, and so Qualcomm's new antenna module is important in that'll help customers access that 5G coverage. It's arriving just in time, too, as many carriers have announced that they'll begin deploying their 5G networks in 2018 and 2019.
