First trial of the tech in Europe, using Vodafone’s 5G Standalone networks in Spain and Germany
In the first European technical test of this advanced 5G uplink technology, Vodafone, Qualcomm and Xiaomi achieved peak upload speeds of up to 273Mbps. Most smartphones and home broadband services have average upload speed of 100 Mbps. Picture shows Vodafone engineers Iván Gallego (right) and Álvaro Fructuoso conducting first European test of the 5G uplink technology.
This 5G technology promises to bring upload speeds closer to download levels, extending coverage and increasing capacity at the same time. Better uplink speeds are needed to meet the growing demand for cloud storage, video streaming, augmented and virtual reality applications and multi-player gaming.
Winning combination
The test combined Vodafone’s new 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks in Germany and Spain. It involved Qualcomm’s The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform and Xiaomi’s yet-to-be-launched flagship smartphone.
The improved performance is achieved through Uplink Carrier Aggregation with Tx switching. It combines multiple transmission channels supported by the smartphone and mobile antenna. Unlike most current 5G services, it does not partly rely on 4G technology in the guise of 5G Non-Standalone (NSA).
Vodafone has launched 5G SA commercially in Germany, which it claims is the first in the European Union, and the UK. It is running pilots of the technology in other markets and will update sites to support Uplink Carrier Aggregation with Tx Switching as new devices become available.
Aiming for market first
Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone, said: “We want our customers to be among the first anywhere in the world to benefit from this new 5G feature when it becomes available.
“That’s why we are working with key partners to lead the industry in pulling together and testing the necessary network, silicon chips and devices to turn it into a reality, all while driving a stronger vendor and developer ecosystem.”
Enrico Salvatori, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm Europe/MEA of Qualcomm Europe, added, “We are proud of our continued collaboration with Vodafone and Xiaomi to achieve another 5G milestone”.
“The successful pilot test of UL Tx switching highlights the added value that maximises resource utilisation with respect to user equipment’s capability and further enhances the uplink performance,” added Andi Zhang, Deputy General Manager of Product & Technology at Xiaomi. “We are committed to working with key partners in innovating in 5G and access technologies to enhance the customer experience and stay ahead.”