Ericsson, Telstra, and Qualcomm Set 5G Uplink Speed Record

Ericsson, Telstra, and Qualcomm have achieved the highest uplink peak rate ever recorded on a commercial network during a live demo in Queensland, Australia. Together, they reached an uplink data speed of close to 1Gbps.

Using Ericsson’s New Radio-Dual Connectivity (NR-DC) and carrier aggregation software features together with a smartphone form-factor test device powered by Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System on Telstra’s network, this new uplink speed record marks another significant milestone for the ecosystem collaboration between the three companies. The high uplink peak rate was reached by combining the data rates from both mid-band and high band (millimeter wave) to fully utilize the spectrum. The demo used Ericsson’s NR-DC software feature with uplink four-component carrier aggregation (UL 4CC CA), in which four contiguous carriers of 100MHz are combined, resulting in higher data speeds.

“We continue to pursue new and innovative ways of enhancing the end-user impact of 5G. An uplink speed of close to 1Gbps using NR-DC and four-component carrier aggregation is the latest in a series of 5G milestones we have achieved in collaboration with Telstra and Qualcomm. This means users can enjoy vastly improved experiences from applications where quicker upload time makes a difference,“ said Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line 5G RAN at Ericsson.

“We have a history of world firsts with Ericsson and Qualcomm. In 2016 we broke the 1Gbps barrier on 4G; in January this year, we set a new download record on 5G, and now we have set a new record in the uplink on a commercial 5G network. It is a testament to the continuous efforts of our team to innovate, and I take pride in how, together, we continue to push the boundaries of what this technology can deliver,“ added Nikos Katinakis, Group Executive Networks & IT at Telstra.

“Qualcomm is pleased to collaborate with Ericsson and Telstra on this 5G dual connectivity and carrier aggregation milestone. By achieving the highest uplink peak rate ever recorded on a commercial network in Queensland, Australia, we’re underscoring our commitment to enabling differentiated 5G experiences across a variety of use cases beyond mobile. Together, we are realizing the full potential of 5G through breakthroughs that will drive transformative benefits for consumers and enterprises alike,“ concluded Sunil Patil, Vice President, 5G Product Management at Qualcomm.