Qualcomm X85 5G Modem Brings Downloads Of Up To 12.5 Gbps

As expected, Qualcomm brought a host of big innovations in the field of wireless connectivity and AI implementation in telecommunications to MWC 2025 in Barcelona. We had some previews of its developments in the days leading up to the event. Now, the North American firm has announced the Qualcomm X85 5G modem, new low-power 4G platforms, and the Qualcomm FWA Gen 4 Elite Platform. It also revealed the expansion of its technologies into 5G O-RAN implementations.

Qualcomm X85 5G modem boasts impressive upload/download speeds and powerful AI

Qualcomm announced the modem that we will likely see in next-gen Snapdragon flagship SoCs. The new Qualcomm X85 5G platform is the eighth generation of 5G modems from the company. It is also the fourth generation to implement AI-powered technologies. The X85 boasts impressive download speeds of up to 12.5 Gbps. On the other hand, there are theoretical upload speeds of up to 3.7 Gbps powered by 4-layer UL carrier aggregation. It also includes support for sub-6 and mmWave compatibility with up to 14 km long range.

Qualcomm’s improved 5G AI processor integrates a tensor accelerator hardware. The artificial intelligence boost promises to offer greater speed, energy efficiency, and coverage thanks to 30% faster AI inferencing capabilities. This translates into smoother streaming than ever, faster downloads, and uninterrupted online gaming wherever you are. The modem boasts compatibility with more than 10,000 band configurations. So, it will be fully compatible with practically all carriers around the world. Qualcomm’s 6Rx/4R technology is also present to boost network capacity through spectrum optimization.

Low-power 4G solutions for businesses and IoT platforms

The firm introduced three new 4G modems designed for IoT platforms and industrial use. They boast ultra-low power consumption and small size. This makes them ideal for implementation in a host of interconnected product ecosystems.

First is the Qualcomm E41, a modem that integrates low-power connectivity into the product ecosystems of Idemia and Thales, two companies focused on cybersecurity. Then there is the Qualcomm E51 platform, designed to offer efficient connectivity in IoT devices. There is also the Qualcomm E52 that improves the connectivity of the E51 by integrating support for LTE Cat 1bis connectivity.

Qualcomm’s Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite platform is powered by the X85 5G modem

Recently, Qualcomm announced the “Dragonwing” brand for wireless telecommunications solutions designed for business and enterprise environments. Now, the firm has revealed a new product in the series: the Qualcomm FWA Gen 4 Elite. This platform is powered by the new Qualcomm X85 5G modem. That means it also boasts impressive download and upload speeds of 12.5 Gbps and 3.7 Gbps, respectively.

The FWA Gen 4 Elite’s AI processor boasts up to 40 TOPS. This will enable the implementation of powerful on-device solutions based on artificial intelligence. There’s also a quad-core CPU and dedicated hardware acceleration for cutting-edge performance. Additionally, it features Qualcomm’s 6Rx/8Rx technologies, a step up from the 6Rx/4R tech present in the X85 5G intended for the consumer market. Other integrated features include GNSS, tri-band Wi-Fi 7, and broad carrier middleware compatibility.

More carriers around the world deploying Qualcomm-powered 5G Open RAN networks

Qualcomm also talked about how its technology is increasingly in demand for 5G Open RAN solutions. The company mentioned the case of Viettel, Vietnam’s largest telecom, using Qualcomm Dragonwing hardware to deploy a 5G O-RAN Massive MIMO network. NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s largest mobile carrier, used Dragonwing X100 Accelerator Cards to deploy its 5G vRAN network.