Qualcomm launches new RF filter technology to enable next-generation 5G and Wi-Fi solutions

Qualcomm launches new RF filter technology to enable next-generation 5G and Wi-Fi solutions

Advanced Qualcomm ultraBAW filter technology extends RF portfolio to 7 GHz for 5G and Wi-Fi markets

SAN DIEGO, October 20, 2021 – Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced the launch of Qualcomm ultraBAW RF filter technology for sub-7 GHz frequency bands, building on the company’s previous work to advance high-performance 5G and connectivity systems in the wireless product market segment through modem-to-antenna solutions, laying a solid foundation for this innovation.

RF filters separate the radio signals transmitted and received by mobile phones from different frequency bands. The new Qualcomm ultraBAW RF filter technology will support 5G and Wi-Fi solutions to use spectrum up to below 7GHz, achieving high performance at higher frequency bands. Using frequency bands below 7GHz will enable 5G and Wi-Fi to coexist, benefiting the next generation of mobile terminals, laptops, and numerous solutions for automotive, IoT, and industrial applications, enabling them to demonstrate higher performance and energy efficiency in indoor and outdoor environments.

Simplified diagram of the expanded microacoustic filter technology portfolio to meet new 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity needs in sub-7 GHz bands

The new Qualcomm ultraBAW RF filter continues and expands the leading performance of the company's previously launched Qualcomm ultraSAW technology. Qualcomm ultraSAW supports low frequency bands from 600MHz to 2.7GHz, while Qualcomm ultraBAW supports 2.7GHz to 7.2GHz, thus extending mid-band connections to below 7GHz. Qualcomm ultraBAW also supports ultra-wide channels up to 300MHz, coexistence of 5G and/or Wi-Fi networks, and faster downloads and uploads.

Qualcomm ultraBAW can provide support for key Wi-Fi bands, including 5GHz, the newly added 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6E, and bands that comply with future Wi-Fi standards, by supporting higher frequency bands from 2.7GHz to 7.2GHz. Terminals using Qualcomm ultraBAW technology will have multiple advantages, including support for higher transmission rates and enhanced positioning service capabilities.

Qualcomm's ultraBAW filter uses thin-film piezoelectric micro-acoustic wave technology, which not only supports a smaller board area, but also uses innovative heat dissipation module technology to improve energy efficiency and support longer battery life. In addition, Qualcomm's ultraBAW, as the latest product in Qualcomm Technologies' industry-leading modem-to-antenna solution portfolio, will support terminal manufacturers to introduce high-performance 5G and Wi-Fi connections into multiple vertical fields, including smartphones, automobiles, laptops, tablets, CPE, small base stations, fixed wireless access (FWA) and the Internet of Things.

“Our next-generation RF filter solutions are critical to expanding 5G beyond the smartphone space,” said Christian Block, senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm’s RF Front-End business. “Qualcomm’s ultraSAW technology has been very successful for sub-3 GHz frequency bands, and now we have introduced Qualcomm’s ultraBAW technology, which can provide excellent performance for sub-7 GHz frequency bands. Qualcomm Technologies is working with industry-leading device manufacturers to develop the next generation of connected devices, so that consumers can enjoy peak performance of seamless 5G NR and Wi-Fi networks, whether they are streaming videos, downloading files or enjoying XR experiences.”

With the launch of the new Qualcomm ultraBAW RF filter, Qualcomm Technologies' portfolio of solutions from antenna to modem and RF is becoming more complete. The portfolio includes the previously launched Qualcomm ultraSAW and other RF front-end components, which will continue to break through in innovation, performance and energy efficiency.

Qualcomm ultraBAW improves high-frequency band performance from the filter component level, further strengthening the advantages of Qualcomm Technologies' advanced RF front-end product portfolio and 5G modems and RF systems. The company is integrating Qualcomm ultraBAW technology across its entire product line, including power amplifier modules, diversity modules, Wi-Fi (modules/separators/filters) and discrete filters. The power amplifier module (Qualcomm QPM6679) launched by the company this year also uses Qualcomm ultraBAW, which can support high-frequency band-based high-power processing in an extremely small acoustic wave structure.

Products enabled by Qualcomm's ultraBAW filter technology are sampling to customers. Commercial devices using this technology are expected to be available in the second half of 2022.

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm is the world's leading wireless technology innovator and a driving force behind the development, commercialization and scale-up of 5G. Our invention of connecting mobile phones to the Internet opened the era of mobile Internet. Today, our basic technology enables the entire mobile ecosystem, and our inventions are found in every 3G, 4G and 5G smartphone. We bring the advantages of mobile technology to new industries such as automobiles, the Internet of Things, and computing, creating a new world where people and everything can communicate and interact smoothly.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including, our QCT semiconductor business.