Qualcomm introduces 7nm modem for 5g and 4g

Qualcomm has announced the X55, a 5g modem that, unlike the company’s existing X50, also offers support for 2g through 4g. According to the manufacturer, the modem can handle the main frequency bands that will be used worldwide for 5g.

The Snapdragon X55 is its second-generation ‘5G New Radio’ modem, according to Qualcomm. It is the successor of last year’s X50, with considerably more extensive specifications. For example, there is support for the standalone 5G standard, which allows the modem to work on future 5G networks that are separate from the current 4G systems.

In addition to lte tdd support, the X55 also has support for fdd. This allows the modem to handle significantly more frequency bands than the Snapdragon X50, including those used for networks in the Benelux.

In terms of spectrum, the presence of the QTM525 module allows the modem to use high mmWave frequencies with a bandwidth of 800MHz and sub-6GHz waves with a bandwidth of 100MHz. According to Qualcomm, the peak speed for 5G networks thus amounts to 7Gbit/s, where the X50 remains stuck at a maximum of 5GBit/s.

The major advantage of the modem is the support for 2g, 3g and 4g. The X50 had to be combined with a Snapdragon soc for this. The new X55 supports lte cat 22, with peak speeds of 2.5Gbit/s and a maximum upload speed of 316Mbit/s. In comparison, the Snapdragon 855 offers lte cat 20 with a maximum download speed of 2Gbit/s. The X55 offers spectrum sharing so that 5g and 4g can function on the same frequencies.

The X55 is produced at 7nm, where the X50 is made at 10nm. This may lead to improvements in the consumption and size of the modem, although the company does not report anything about this. Qualcomm expects that the X55 can be used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, hotspots and cars. The company has started supplying samples to customers. The first products with the modem should be available at the end of this year.