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Qualcomm’s 5G modules will make it easier for device makers to develop their own 5G products

By Koh Wanzi - on 28 Feb 2018, 7:45pm

Qualcomm’s 5G modules will make it easier for device makers to develop their own 5G products

The 5G module is even smaller than the device pictured here. The latter integrates Qualcomm's X50 modem.

Think of how many parts it takes to put together a device with wireless capabilities. The number runs into the thousands.

The next generation of 5G devices will require even more work, as manufacturers will need to integrate myriad new technologies and acquire the technological know-how to manage all the different bands and frequencies.

However, Qualcomm wants to make it a lot easier for device makers to integrate 5G capabilities into their devices. At MWC 2018, it announced a fully tested and optimized module that would allow everyone from PC, phone, tablet, and even car manufacturers to create and develop their own 5G products.

Its new 5G Module Solution integrates over a thousand components across a few modules optimized to accelerate deployments and lower the barriers to entry, thus significantly reducing complexities in device design.

In other words, OEMs only need to combine a few simple modules in their designs, as opposed to putting together over a thousand components themselves.

Qualcomm will offer a handle of sub-modules that cover digital, RF, connectivity, and front-end functionality, but they’ll all be part of a more complete solution.

Ultimately, the full solution spans a wide range of components, including an application processor, baseband modem, memory, power management integrated circuit (PMIC), RF Front-End (RFFE), antennas and passive components.

Ideally, this means that smartphone or IoT device manufacturers need to spend less time on designing, developing, testing, and optimizing their products, which should in turn reduce R&D costs and enable them to launch faster.

According to Qualcomm, this 5G module also enables a 30 per cent footprint reduction compared to designs using discrete components.

Qualcomm’s 5G module benefits the entire 5G ecosystem as a whole. With lower barriers to entry, more OEMs could create an even greater range of devices and thus drive the growth of the next generation of cellular networks.

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