Nokia, Qualcomm Technologies and UScellular have announced that together they have set a new world record, achieving near gigabit 5G speed for distances of more than 10 km, with average downlink speeds of 1 Gbps, and uplink speeds reaching approximately 57Mbps. Additionally, 750 Mbps downlink speed was recorded at a distance of 11km. This trial will pave the way to bring extended range 5G service with massive capacity and low latency to even more regions across the US, including rural areas.
The milestone was achieved on UScellular’s live 5G mmWave commercial network in in Grand Island, Nebraska, using Nokia's 5G extended-range mmWave solution and a 5G CPE powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System with the Qualcomm QTM527 mmWave antenna module. The companies jointly tested multiple locations with different scenarios, measuring distance, throughput and latency.
“We will deliver an incredible 5G experience to even more areas.”
Tommi Uitto, Nokia.
“These results demonstrate what 5G mmWave will bring to consumers, enterprises and industries. By extending the distance for 5G mmWave technology without sacrificing speed or latency, we will deliver an incredible 5G experience to even more areas. We are proud to work with our partners on this important and significant achievement. This is another milestone in the development of 5G services and demonstrates the capacity of our commercially deployed 5G solutions,” said Tommi Uitto, president of mobile networks, Nokia.
Closing the digital divide
“5G mmWave aiming to close the ‘connectivity divide.’”
Juho Sarvikas, Qualcomm Technologies.
“This successful collaboration represents another significant milestone for 5G mmWave aiming to close the ‘connectivity divide’ and expand broadband services to rural, suburban, and urban communities. Qualcomm Technologies is at the forefront of driving the next generation of wireless connectivity and with this milestone we are empowering operators and OEMs to offer cost-efficient, high-performance, extended-range multi-gigabit 5G broadband connectivity to consumers,” said Juho Sarvikas, vice president and president, North America, Qualcomm Technologies.
Indeed, it is hoped that 5G mmWave will help 5G networks close the digital divide, by offering extreme capacity throughout rural, suburban and urban areas. This trial is significant in that it shows that the 5G technology - Nokia’s 5G extended-range mmWave solution and Qualcomm Fixed Wireless Access Platform gen 1 - enables mobile operators, such as UScellular, to address the connectivity gap in communities that previously were not serviced or may not have an adequate internet connection.
“We can provide our customers with the leading-edge capabilities”
Mike Irizarry, UScellular
“These latest trial results reinforce the important role that fast, reliable wireless service plays in keeping people connected no matter where they live or work. With 5G mmWave technology from companies like Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies, we can provide our customers with the leading-edge capabilities of high performance, ultra-low latency 5G and offer an even wider range of communications services to enhance their wireless experience,” said Mike Irizarry, executive vice president and chief technology officer, UScellular.
Last mile access
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) delivers fast broadband speeds on a cost-effective basis and can provide “last mile” access, which is especially important in rural areas, providing much-needed connectivity to schools, hospitals, and other anchor institutions.Nokia’s mmWave portfolio, used in the field test, comprised of compact, multi-band, high-power and medium-power solutions, offering a wide range of deployment options and providing flexibility in ensuring service continuity across a wide variety of environments.
Nokia and UScellular recently announced an agreement to add 5G mmWave capabilities in the 24 GHz and 28 GHz spectrum bands with UScellular deploying Nokia’s award-winning AirScale portfolio, with Cloud RAN capabilities, to provide enhanced Mobile Broadband 5G mmWave.
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