Qualcomm Technologies, Swisscom, Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC) and Ericsson recently showed the first 5G device on a live 5G NR network in Europe.
The 5G connection in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band took place at Swisscom’s Dialog Arena technology showcase event in Lucerne and was conducted using a 5G CPE, the WNC MWH-5 accessing Swisscom’s 3GPP Rel-15 5G NR network based on Ericsson’s hardware and software for radio, transport and core network solutions. During the event, the device connected to the 5G NR Swisscom network and displayed a 5G icon. The WNC device powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G modem and RF subsystem is expected to be one of the first commercially available 5G devices on Swisscom’s 5G network in first half of 2019.
In addition to the WNC device, Swisscom also demonstrated a 5G NR data transfer on the same 5G network using Qualcomm Technologies’ smartphone form factor mobile test device, also powered by the Snapdragon X50 5G modem and RF subsystem that will power commercial 5G mobile devices expected in 2019.
Swisscom announced that 3GPP-compliant 5G NR sites have been put into operation using a test licence in Geneva, Lausanne, Berne, Burgdorf, Lucerne and Zurich to gain insights about different real-world network conditions such as highly crowded environments, lake surfaces or mountain areas.
Urs Schaeppi, CEO, Swisscom
In the past, we only had lab-like demonstrations. Today in Lucerne, we successfully connected both, Qualcomm Technologies' 5G mobile test device and WNC’s CPE, with our live 5G network. We are committed to technology leadership and today is a big step forward.
Cristiano Amon, President, Qualcomm
This is the first 5G NR OTA connection worldwide between devices and a live operator network using 3.5 GHz spectrum, marking an important milestone for the mobile industry in Europe to help enable OEMs and operators to deliver 5G networks and devices in the first half of 2019.
