TIM, together with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies has successfully completed the first 5G connection in Italy on TIM’s live network using the country’s first 5G prototype smartphone.
At the TIM laboratories based in Turin, the first OTA (Over the Air) connection trials compliant with the 3GPP 5G NR (New Radio) Release 15 specifications featuring Ericsson’s technology, using the Massive MIMO solution, were completed. The test uses for the first time in Italy a smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G chipset, that will be in some of the first 5G smartphones available on the market in 2019.
For the implementation of these latest 5G transmission trials, TIM used a portion of the 3.4-3.8 GHz spectrum range, which was assigned to the operator following the recent auction of spectrum conducted by the Ministry for Economic Development in Italy, connecting the prototype 5G device to the TIM network. This demonstration is a fundamental step towards the implementation of 5G in Italy to benefit TIM customers.
Elisabetta Romano, CTO, TIM
With this significant milestone of connecting the first 5G test smartphone to our network, TIM confirms its leading role in Italy and its determination to create a mobile network to support the evolutions offered by 5G.
Enrico Salvatori, SVP and President, Qualcomm Europe/Middle East and Africa, Qualcomm Europe
This is an important step in bringing commercial 5G networks and services to Italian consumers; and our 5G mobile test device, powered by the Snapdragon X50 5G chipset, is the key element of this accomplishment.
