Using Qualcomm’s millimeter waves, Nokia and Elisa shatter previous 5G speed record
5G sets another speed record, reaching an impressive 8Gbps on a commercial 5G network. It happened in Helsinki, Finland, through the combined use of two 5G mmWave devices connected in simultaneous mode and with the collaboration between the three partners of this project, Nokia, Elisa and Qualcomm Technologies.
The announcement of the feat, which arrived on the web a few hours ago thanks to a post published on Qualcomm Technologies’ website, briefly explained how it was possible to reach the never-before-seen speed through the collaboration of the three partners on the Finnish territory. The experiment was carried out inside the Elisa flagship store in Helsinki, where those present were able to witness this new level of technology applied to the 5G network. The service, not yet available to the general public, is expected to arrive according to initial statements starting next year.
5G record, how it was possible
The previous speed record, set by Qualcomm itself last month in the lab, allowed to touch 5.06 Gbps. To achieve the new record of 8 Gbps, however, the three partners chose to use two 5G mmWave test devices born out of the combined effort of Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies, connected to the commercial 5G network of Elisa, Finland’s leading telecommunications and digital services company.
Specifically, the base station involved the use of two Nokia AirScale radios, both with 800 MHz of commercial 5G millimeter-wave spectrum at 26 GHz. This system provided connectivity to the two 5G devices, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF with second-generation Qualcomm QTM525 mmWave antenna modules. The peak speed reached by each of the two devices was attested at 4Gbps from the base station.
5G ultra fast, what are the possible applications
Thanks to the lower latency and bandwidth, this type of high-speed connection will allow the performance of business services that involve the use of devices with remote controls for critical applications. From a user perspective, however, this could open the door to new levels of connectivity, with wireless network access as an alternative to fiber broadband. Add to that new types of live VR/AR experiences, as well as downloads of 4K video or AAA video games in record time.
The experiment by Qualcomm, Nokia and Elisa, however, was done using mmWave. That is, the so-called millimeter waves, which, while being the fastest of all, also have the shortest range.
The 5G “millimeter” is designed to replace Wi-Fi in shopping malls, squares and, in general, in places that are not very large but where there is a high concentration of connected users who require high performance, all at once.
5G record, great satisfaction for partners
Representatives of the three partners, Qualcomm, Nokia and Elisa, said they were pleased with the amazing results achieved, effectively breaking the previous record achieved just a few weeks ago by the team formed by Verizon, Ericsson and Qualcomm. In particular, Qualcomm Europe Senior Vice President and President Enrico Salvatori focused on the significance of this record in terms of future developments: “We are incredibly proud of our collaboration on this historic event, which represents a significant milestone for 5G mmWave. […] The results achieved today show the true potential for mmWave deployments, and we are excited to continue working with industry leaders to make 5G mmWave a commercial reality.”