First 5G-Advanced Connection in Frequency Range 3

Keysight Technologies and Qualcomm Technologies have successfully established the industry’s first end-to-end interoperability and data connection within Frequency Range 3 (FR3), which spans from 7.125 GHz to 24.25 GHz. This achievement highlights the potential of FR3 to support future 6G systems and advanced 5G applications, providing wider bandwidths that enable ultra-high-speed data transmission.

 

A Key Spectrum for Future Wireless Technologies

The 3GPP’s spectrum allocation includes three main frequency ranges: Frequency Range 1 (FR1) for bands below 6 GHz, widely used in current 5G networks; Frequency Range 2 (FR2), covering bands above 24 GHz, associated with millimeter-wave technology; and Frequency Range 3 (FR3), which sits between these two ranges. FR3 offers significant potential due to its ability to support higher data rates and greater capacity, making it a prime candidate for the next generation of wireless communication technologies, including 5G-Advanced and 6G.

 

Technical Details of the Interoperability Test

The successful connection was facilitated by Keysight’s E7515P UXM 5G wireless test platform, in conjunction with Qualcomm’s 5G mobile test platform (MTP). The test focused on user equipment (UE) calibration and radio frequency performance verification, establishing a full-stack data connection between the MTP and Keysight’s 5G network emulation solutions. This test demonstrated the feasibility of using FR3 for seamless network connections between 5G base stations and next-generation mobile devices.

 

Accelerating the Development of 5G-Advanced and 6G Devices

This milestone is a crucial step in the advancement of 5G-Advanced and 6G technologies. According to Tingfang Ji, VP of Engineering at Qualcomm Wireless Research, the success of this FR3 testing will expedite the design and deployment of new devices and technologies. Lucas Hansen, VP of Keysight’s Wireless Devices and Operators unit, emphasized that this achievement will significantly shorten the development cycle for 5G-Advanced and 6G devices, accelerating their time to market.

 

The Future of FR3 in Wireless Communications

As the global telecom industry explores new spectrum opportunities for 6G, the lower portion of FR3 is attracting considerable interest. This spectrum could play a similar role in 6G as midband spectrum does in 5G, providing wide-area coverage with high data rates. Qualcomm is already developing a prototype “Giga-MIMO” system to leverage FR3’s capabilities, underscoring the importance of this spectrum in the future of wireless communications.