The Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G modem was expected to be found in next-generation handsets, but the company has found a way to make use of in other ventures. In short, it has announced a solution that will allow non-smartphone devices to take advantage of 5G speeds too. Introduced today, the new home gateway reference design will make use of the ultra-fast Snapdragon X55 modem to make it possible for internet service providers to deliver speeds that beat those offered by fiber optics.
Qualcomm’s Latest Solution Should Allow Non-5G Devices to Enjoy High Speeds for Limitless Media Consumption
The new solution integrates 5G and Wi-Fi 6 to provide Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) home gateways. It will now be possible to configure the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem and the Networking Pro 1200 platform to support sub-6GHz networks and enable longer range communication and high speeds. So far, most of the 5G development has been focused on smartphones, but with Qualcomm’s new solution, it will be possible to enjoy 5G speeds on other devices such as televisions and PCs wirelessly.
So far, around 34 companies have signed up to use the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 modem and RF system. We can expect these 5G broadband devices to hit the market next year. Called 5G FWA CPE, which is short for fixed wireless access customer-premises equipment, these devices are expected to replace wired cable modems. Thanks to millimeter-wave and sub-6GHz wireless signaling, the resulting speeds could be much higher than what current home broadband solutions offer to the masses.
Some of the companies that are working with the chipmaker include LG, Linksys, Nokia, Panasonic, and Samsung. Since these vendors are spread across the world, we can hope Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55-powered 5G broadband products to arrive in the U.S., Asia, and Europe by next year. In addition to improving the fixed broadband services, Qualcomm believes that its latest offering will also allow service providers to use the 5G network infrastructure to serve consumers in suburban and rural areas.
The new reference designs are now available for sampling and the customer premises equipment (CPEs) will compete with DSL, passive optical networking (PON) providers, and cable broadband (DOCSIS).
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News Source: Qualcomm
