Qualcomm unveils LTE-A cat. 10 modem with up to 450Mb/s DL speeds

Qualcomm Technologies this week introduced its next-generation 4G/LTE multimode solution for mobile devices, such as smartphones and media tablets. The new Goby 9*45 modem is the world’s first 4G/LTE-Advanced Category 10 cellular modem that supports download speeds of up to 450Mb/s. The solution will be integrated into mobile and other devices next year.

Qualcomm’s next-gen 4G/LTE-A cat. 10 multimode solution consists of Qualcomm Gobi 9*45 modem as well as Qualcomm RF360 envelope tracker, the QFE3100, which provides dynamic supply voltage to power amplifiers (PAs) that minimizes heat generation, improves battery life, and enhances transmit signal quality. Together the chips enable an almost complete low-power 4G/LTE-A cat. 10 wireless solution for smartphones, tablets and other wireless devices.

The Gobi 9*45 modem is the one of the world’s first category 10 4G/LTE-A modem that supports global carrier aggregation (CA) for download speeds of up to 450Mb/s, upload speeds of up to100 Mb/s, and CA across the TDD and FDD spectrum. The modem supports up to 60MHz 3x CA in the downlink and up to 40MHz 2x CA in the uplink. The 9×45 modem supports all major cellular standards, including DC-HSPA, EVDO, CDMA 1x, GSM and TD-SCDMA, supports all major RF bands and band combinations, and provides global position support for all major constellations including GPS, Beidou, Glonass and Galileo. Additionally, the modem sports integrated support for LTE Broadcast, VoLTE and LTE Dual SIM. The chip is made using 20nm process technology.

The QFE3100 is designed to control how Gobi 9*45 modem (or another modem from Qualcomm) and other communication hardware work in concert. The new envelop tracker designed to enable sleeker designs and improved battery life by reducing power amplifier (PA) power consumption and heat generation.

“The expansion of our connectivity solutions to include fifth-generation LTE Category 10 technology, and the QFE3100, will offer consumers more efficient mobile devices that connect seamlessly to the fastest LTE Advanced networks while consuming lower power,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies. “Today’s announcement builds on our established technology leadership in the LTE connectivity space and demonstrates our continued commitment to offering users an outstanding and unparalleled mobile experience.”

Two new chips are currently sampling with customers of Qualcomm and are anticipated to be commercially available in 2015.

While at present it is unknown which companies plan to use the Gobi 9*45 modem and the QFE3100 ET, it should be noted that Apple and Samsung and traditionally among the first to adopt Qualcomm’s wireless innovations in their products. As a result, it is logical to expect Apple iPhone 6s (or Apple iPhone 7?) as well as next-generation Samsung Galaxy S and Samsung Galaxy Note to feature up to 450Mb/s download speeds as well as up to 100Mb/s upload speeds.

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KitGuru Says: Up to 450Mb/s download speed should be enough for watching stereoscopic 3D ultra-high-definition movies online. Of course, 450Mb/s is absolute maximum that is achievable in ideal conditions; in reality data-rates will be a lot lower. Still, a good thing that those lower data-rates will actually be sustainable.

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