Samsung and Qualcomm achieve breakthrough in 5G spectrum efficiency

Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Announce Industry-First 1024 QAM Achievement for FDD Bands – In a significant advancement for 5G technology, Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have successfully completed tests using 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) for both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum bands. This marks a notable industry first for FDD, highlighting the companies’ dedication to enhancing the 5G network’s throughput and spectral efficiency.

Enhancing Data Transmission with Advanced QAM Technology

The tests, which were carried out in Samsung’s Research and Development lab in Korea, involved the use of Samsung’s 5G virtualized RAN (vRAN) software and radios, supporting both 2.1GHz (FDD) and 3.5GHz (TDD) bands. Qualcomm Technologies contributed a mobile phone form-factor test device equipped with its latest Snapdragon® X75 5G Modem-RF System. By achieving 1024 QAM, Samsung and Qualcomm have enhanced the modulation technology that is key to transmitting more data more efficiently. This level of modulation, defined in 3GPP Release 17 specifications, allows for significantly higher data transmission speeds, facilitating advanced mobile services like live video streaming and online gaming.

Record-Breaking Speeds Achieved

In their trial, the collaboration reached 485 Mbps in downlink speed using a 20MHz bandwidth. This speed is over 20% higher than what the prevalent 256 QAM allows, demonstrating near-theoretical gain and representing a major leap in 5G technology. This achievement in the FDD band is particularly significant, as it is the first of its kind in the industry.

Implications for Future 5G Development

Ji-Yun Seol, Vice President, Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics, emphasized the importance of enhancing spectral efficiency for developing next-generation solutions. “This achievement underscores Samsung’s ongoing commitment to push forward the frontiers of mobile technology,” he stated. Sunil Patil, Vice President, Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., also remarked on the milestone: “This accomplishment showcases our unwavering commitment to supporting operators in their efforts to enhance 5G throughput and boost spectral efficiency.”

Continued Collaboration and Innovation

The success of this test is part of ongoing efforts by both companies to advance 5G capabilities. Previously, Samsung and Qualcomm Technologies achieved the world’s first simultaneous 5G 2x uplink and 4x downlink carrier aggregation for FDD spectrum. They continue to collaborate to push the boundaries of mobile 5G technology further.

Future Commercial Availability

Samsung plans to complete ongoing tests of 1024 QAM in traditional RAN as well, with the technology expected to be commercially available within this year. This progress in 5G technology is set to enhance how operators use spectrum resources efficiently, providing higher throughput and better service quality to end-users.