The Exynos Modem 5100 (Source: Samsung)
Samsung announced what it says is the industry’s first 3GPP Release 15 specification-compatible 5G modem.
In a single chip, the ExynosModem 5100 supports both sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave spectrum, as well as legacy networks including 2G GSM/CDMA, 3G WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, HSPA, and 4G LTE.
In the sub-6 GHz setting the modem delivers downlink speeds of up to 2 Gbps and up to 6 Gbps in mmWave settings.
Samsung said it successfully performed an over-the-air 5G NR wireless data call test using a 5G base station and 5G device prototypes embedded with the chip.
“Samsung’s leadership in communication technologies and market-proven knowledge allowed us to develop the industry’s first 5G modem, the ExynosModem 5100, which fully complies with the latest 3GPP standards,” said InyupKang, president and head of System LSI Business at Samsung Electronics, in a statement. “As the industry prepares the shift toward 5G, Samsung will continue to drive the growth of innovative ideas and new services in mobile applications and other emerging industries.”
The new modems will be available to customers by the end of 2018.
Last month, Qualcomm introduced miniaturized antenna modules, small enough to fit into the bezel of smartphones and capable of supporting mmWave and sub-6 GHz bands.
As for devices, Verizon and Motorola introduced a new smartphone that can be upgraded to 5G next year via a clip-on module housing a 5G-capable modem. Sprint, meanwhile, announced last week that it’s working with LG to deliver the first 5G smartphone in the U.S. by the first half of 2019.
Filed Under: Devices
