Keysight Technologies Inc. announced that working with Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., has achieved 2 Gbps LTE download data speeds using Keysight’s 5G Protocol R&D Toolset and Qualcomm Technologies’ mobile test device, powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X24 LTE modem.

Keysight’s 5G Protocol R&D Toolset, the industry's first 5G protocol test solution, is part of Keysight’s suite of Network Emulation Solutions, the only seamless RF and protocol workflow approach that enables chipset and device manufacturers to efficiently develop and test the latest 4G and evolving 5G standards in a single solution.

Classified by 3GPP in the latest specifications as UE Category 20, the data rates were achieved through the aggregation of 20 separate streams of LTE data, and incorporated the latest advanced 4 x 4 MIMO and modulation encoding techniques. Gigabit LTE networks are an important building block towards 5G deployments, enabling mobile operators to address growing data requirements and eventually offer enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services.

“Building comprehensive and advanced LTE support into our solutions is critical to our customers as they prepare to launch new devices that must support both 5G and LTE networks,” says Lucas Hansen, senior director, 5G & Wireless Business, Keysight Technologies. “These customers can now access leading-edge 4G and 5G capability in a single solution, breaking down the silos and disconnected workflows between teams, and achieving cost-efficient testing.”

Keysight’s powerful R&D solutions provide the necessary in-depth insight to chipset and device manufacturers to analyze and debug the behavior of their entire 4G/5G modem as they develop the emerging technology. Last year, Keysight was first to introduce 5G NR-ready network emulation solutions, which Keysight and Qualcomm Technologies used to jointly demonstrate the 4 Gbps 5G data connection at Mobile World Congress 2018.