Qualcomm Plans On Working On A Faster 5G Variant With About 30 Network Carriers And Gear Providers

On Monday, Qualcomm Inc. revealed plans to partner with at least 30 network carriers and providers of telecommunications gear on providing the fastest variant of 5G networking technology.

While the fifth-generation networks (5G) utilize a combination of networking technologies, the lower frequency version referred esoterically to as “Sub-6”, has impressive speeds and travels well over longer distances. This version is, however, only better than its 4G predecessor by only a little difference.

5G’s fastest network, called “millimeter wave” by Qualcomm utilizes much higher frequencies. This higher version is called different names by different carriers. Verizon for instance calls it Verizon’s “5G Ultra Wideband”.

5G still has a long way to go in terms of availability, coverage, and reach. There are still many areas globally that the technology has still not meandered. As of the beginning of thismonth, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT revealed that 21.25 percent, which accounts for about 15 million people out of a total population of 71.27 million, were mobile users on 5G networks.

Qualcomm was part of the development of the standards that ensure millimeter wave devices are compatible anywhere in the world.

The fastest version of the 5G technology, called “millimeter wave” by Qualcomm is most useful in areas where many people are trying to connect simultaneously to mobile networks.

Qualcomm also revealed on Monday that over 30 carriers and gear makers have shown commitment to using this faster 5G version in some form. Some of these tech companies include Telstra Corp based in Australia, Germany-based Deutsche Telekom, China’s Unicom, Fibocom Wireless Inc., Chunghwa, etc.

Qualcomm is one of the leading makers of 5G chips and is leading other tech giants in themillimeter wave technology. The company could have increased sales and even market dominance once the technology gets more widely adopted.

At a recent press briefing, Durga Malladi – Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of 5G Technologies, said that “we actually haven’t seen a whole lot of millimeter wave outside the U.S. and Japan, and some limited deployments in Europe and Korea so far, but that’s expanding quite rapidly”.