Processor features LTE modem for 4G LTE & WiFi

This is the first publicly announced processor for use in mobile devices to support LTE Category 12 in the downlink and Category 13 in the uplink, providing up to 33% and 200% improvement over its predecessor’s download and upload speeds, respectively. Also available as a discrete chipset, the X12 LTE modem has demonstrated peak download speeds of up to 600Mb/s through 3x downlink carrier aggregation and 256-QAM, as well as peak upload speeds of up to 150Mb/s through 2x uplink carrier aggregation and 64-QAM. The Snapdragon 820 processor is also the first publicly announced processor to offer LTE support for 4x4 MIMO, designed to double download throughput speeds on a single LTE carrier. In addition, it features Uplink Data Compression, a feature that is currently unique to select Snapdragon LTE modems, and engineered to enhance the user experience in a wide range of applications, including accelerating web page loading times. The processor is also the first publicly announced processor with advanced closed loop antenna tuning when paired with the QFE2550 antenna tuner, designed to dynamically optimise RF performance in real network conditions, particularly for challenging metallic industrial designs in premium tier handsets. Advanced closed loop antenna tuning is designed to reduce dropped calls, improve cell edge throughput and even lower power consumption.

In addition to its leading LTE features, the Snapdragon 820 processor also supports superior WiFi performance and connectivity experiences through Qualcomm VIVE 802.11ac with Qualcomm MU | EFX MU-MIMO technology, along with tri-band support, through multi-gigabit 802.11ad (11ad) WiFi. With 2x2 802.11ac (11ac) plus MU-MIMO technology, devices will have the ability to achieve a range increase of up to 50% over the 1x1 configuration.

The peak rate of 2x2 80MHz 11ac is up to 867Mb/s, while the 11ad peak rate is up to 4.6Gb/s. Additionally, 11ad offers up to a five time increase in user throughput with similar power consumption as 11ac. With dynamic session transfer between 11ad and 11ac, devices will have the ability to achieve high performance connectivity in a power-efficient way. The high bandwidth and speeds offered by 11ac WiFi, 11ad WiFi, and MU-MIMO brings new-levels of performance designed to improve overall quality of service, and enhance user experiences for applications such as streaming 4K video, doing peer-to-peer large file sharing, using media kiosks, docking wirelessly, hard disk backups and more.

The Snapdragon 820 processor features advanced convergence technologies between LTE and WiFi, and between licensed and unlicensed spectrum:

• LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U). The Snapdragon 820 processor is the first publicly announced processor for use in mobile devices to offer comprehensive LTE-U support when paired with the WTR3950, increasing mobile network capacity and user throughput by aggregating LTE in licensed and unlicensed bands.
• LTE and WiFi Link Aggregation (LWA). LWA is another method of aggregating licensed and unlicensed spectrum. It is designed to allow mobile operators to utilise their WiFi infrastructure to augment licensed LTE network capacity with unlicensed spectrum capacity.
• Next-generation WiFi calling. The X12 LTE modem supports next-generation HD Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Video over LTE (ViLTE) calling services using the IP Multimedia Subsystem, with support for call continuity between LTE and WiFi. Making use of the cognitive capabilities of Qualcomm Zeroth, the X12 LTE modem monitors real-time WiFi quality to decide if and when to shift the call from LTE to WiFi or back.
• Antenna sharing. The new modem supports several antenna sharing schemes between LTE and WiFi, designed to make it easier for manufacturers to design devices with advanced technologies like LTE-U, 4x4 LTE MIMO, and two-stream WiFi, with attractive form factors and minimal performance impact on either technology.

“The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with X12 LTE modem is a new industry leader, offering highly differentiated features that put OEMs and carriers on the cutting edge, including the latest advances in LTE and WiFi connectivity,” said Alex Katouzian, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies. “With technologies like 4K video, virtual reality and cognitive computing rapidly evolving, it's important to provide consumers with the speed and bandwidth to create a more compelling mobile experience.”

The Snapdragon 820 processor also includes support for services such as LTE-Broadcast and dual-SIM LTE carrier aggregation devices. Devices based on the processor are expected to be available in 1H of 2016.