In today's rapid development of 5G technology, the joint statement of China Unicom, ZTE and Qualcomm Technology Co., Ltd. has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm in this field. The high-frequency and low-frequency NR-DC (New Radio-Dual Connectivity) rate verification of mobile phone terminals completed in Shenzhen has achieved a downlink peak rate of more than 9.3Gbps, which is hundreds of times the speed of the existing 4G network, marking another major breakthrough in 5G communication technology. This achievement not only demonstrates China's leading position in the field of 5G technology, but also sets a new benchmark for global 5G development.
The essence of the technological breakthrough:
In this test, the combination of a high-band 800MHz bandwidth and a 3.5GHz low-band 100MHz bandwidth not only improves signal coverage, but also greatly enhances the data transmission rate. The application of this NR-DC technology actually builds a bridge between different frequency bands, so that the large bandwidth of the high frequency band and the wide coverage of the low frequency band can be perfectly combined. High frequency bands (e.g., millimeter waves) can provide extremely high bandwidth and thus achieve extremely high data transmission rates, but are limited by propagation distance and penetration; The lower frequency bands are able to provide wider coverage and better penetration, but the bandwidth is relatively small. The emergence of NR-DC technology is precisely to combine the advantages of the two to achieve more efficient and comprehensive 5G network coverage and data transmission.
In addition, the introduction of 1024QAM modulation technology has increased the number of bits transmitted per symbol compared to the traditional 256QAM, thus theoretically increasing the transmission speed of the downlink by more than 20%. QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) is a modulation method that maps a stream of digital bits onto a complex plane by increasing the number of bits per symbol, allowing more data to be transmitted within the same bandwidth. The application of 1024QAM technology has further improved the transmission efficiency of 5G networks, bringing users faster download speeds and smoother network experience.
Figure: ZTE officially announced that China Unicom and Qualcomm have completed the verification of the high and low frequency NR-DC rate of mobile terminals, achieving a downlink peak rate of more than 9.3Gbps
The role of the Snapdragon X80 modem:
Smartphones with Snapdragon X80 5G modems play a key role in this process. The Snapdragon X80 is Qualcomm's latest flagship 5G modem, which not only supports 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz bands, but also has peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps and uplink speeds of up to 3.5 Gbps. This performance is made possible by its six-receive antenna architecture, as well as support for 6x downlink carrier aggregation and AI-based mmWave range extension. The Snapdragon X80's six-receiver antenna architecture is capable of receiving signals from multiple antennas simultaneously, improving signal strength and stability. The 6x downlink carrier aggregation can combine signals from multiple frequency bands to increase the data transmission rate. In addition, AI-based mmWave range extension technology can intelligently adjust the transmit power and direction of mmWave signals, thereby expanding coverage and improving user experience.
Impact on the industry:
The success of this technical verification has a far-reaching impact on the industry. First of all, it will greatly improve the user experience, making it possible to run high-bandwidth applications such as high-definition video and VR/AR smoothly. With the popularization of 5G networks and the increase in speed, users will be able to enjoy more high-definition, smooth video content and more immersive VR/AR experiences. Second, it will drive the development of emerging technologies such as telemedicine and smart transportation, which are essential for the digital transformation of society. Telemedicine can break geographical restrictions and allow more people to enjoy high-quality medical resources; Intelligent transportation can improve traffic efficiency, reduce traffic accidents, and provide people with a safer and more convenient way to travel. In addition, with commercial devices powered by the Snapdragon X80 chip expected to be available in the second half of 2024, consumers will be able to experience the convenience of more advanced 5G technology. This will further promote the popularization and application of 5G technology and inject new impetus into the development of the digital economy.
Global rollout of mmWave technology:
As an important part of 5G, millimeter wave technology is being promoted around the world due to its advantages of high bandwidth and low latency. At present, more than 150 operators around the world are investing in mmWave technology, Italy, Japan, Singapore and United States have deployed mmWave commercial networks, and China has also started preparations and testing for mmWave technology deployment in 2020. The commercial deployment of mmWave technology will lay a solid foundation for the global adoption of 5G networks. The high bandwidth of millimeter wave can support more users and devices to access the network at the same time, providing higher data transmission rate and lower latency. The low latency feature can meet the needs of applications such as real-time communication and remote control. With the continuous maturity of millimeter wave technology and the deployment of commercial networks, 5G networks will be able to provide support for more application scenarios and inject new vitality into the development of the digital economy.
Editor's Views:
From technology verification to commercial deployment, the development of 5G technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. The combination of NR-DC and 1024QAM technology not only improves the network speed, but also provides more possibilities for the diversified application of 5G networks. This progress will undoubtedly bring new opportunities and challenges to communication equipment manufacturers, operators and application developers. With the continuous maturity of related technologies and the launch of commercial devices, we have reason to believe that 5G will bring a richer and more convenient digital life experience to users around the world.
For communication equipment manufacturers, the development of 5G technology will push them to continuously innovate and upgrade their products to meet the growing needs of users. For operators, the deployment and operation of 5G networks will bring them new revenue streams and competitive advantages. In addition, with the popularization of 5G networks and the continuous expansion of application scenarios, application developers will also have more opportunities and space to develop innovative applications and services.
This series of progress and changes is not only a technological leap, but also a profound change in the way of life in the future. 5G technology will bring us a more efficient, convenient and intelligent lifestyle, allowing us to enjoy high-quality network services and rich digital content anytime, anywhere. At the same time, it will also inject new impetus into the development of the digital economy and promote the digital transformation and sustainable development of society. We have reason to expect that in the near future, 5G technology will bring us a better future.
