Technology conglomerate Qualcomm has unveiled a 5G Module solution, which will help smartphone manufacturers bring 5G-enabled smartphones to market much faster.
This was announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
Qualcomm says the modules were designed to support faster time to market through simplifying end device designs, reducing system complexity and lowering entry barriers for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Anshel Sag, an associate analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told ITWeb that these modules are important because: "They will help smartphone manufacturers that might not be as big as Samsung and Apple to bring 5G to market in a competitive timeframe with larger, more established companies."
He noted it will be especially important for OEMs from China, as: "This will give the likes of Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi a better chance to compete in the 5G smartphone space."
Dr Roawen Chen, Qualcomm senior VP for QCT global operations, says: "With 5G networks and devices expected in 2019, Qualcomm is in a unique position to help accelerate transition to 5G, by providing OEMs with system-level expertise and integration through our new 5G modules.
"As 5G aims to vastly expand wireless enablement into new vertical markets, our 5G modules are designed to make it simple for newer entrants to take advantage of the promise of upcoming 5G networks and the new opportunities they will enable."
Qualcomm says the module solutions are engineered to allow OEMs in a variety of industries, not only telecommunications, to take advantage of the new technology.
Sag says North America, Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions can expect to see a 5G-enabled smartphone as early as next year.
However, he says: "In more emerging markets, we might see 5G devices later due to the networks not being available yet. The expectation is that we could see something available in those markets around 2020/2021."
Qualcomm also introduced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 700 Mobile Platform Series, which doubles the performance of artificial intelligence capabilities from its predecessor, the 660 Mobile Platform, and makes features available that were previously reserved for its premium Snapdragon 800 Mobile Platform Series.
Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon says this is what the company's OEM customers have been asking for: a way to bring premium tech to affordable devices.
He says the first smartphones integrating the series will be out before the end of this year.
Alex Katouzian, senior VP and GM for mobile, says: "The Snapdragon 700 Series is optimised to support the experience consumers have come to expect from the most advanced mobile devices at a lower price point."
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