Corning and Qualcomm partner on in-building 5G

We’re all familiar with the prospect of losing our connection to mobile data when heading into a building. As the faster implementations of 5G make use of higher frequencies than 4G, ensuring coverage is even more important than before.

It’s a problem that two United States-based technologies, Corning and Qualcomm, are hoping to address, having announced a partnership to build in-building 5G infrastructure using the fastest mmWave spectrum of frequencies.

“Corning has decades of experience designing, installing, and conditioning advanced cellular networks,” said Michelle Engarto, vice president, wireless product line management, Corning Optical Communications. “Our experience in network design and knowledge of varying and distinct customer requirements will benefit customers as we navigate the complexities associated with 5G mmWave indoors. By combining the technology leadership and experience from Corning and Qualcomm Technologies, we aim to offer a compelling and affordable solution for 5G mmWave systems specifically developed with the enterprise in mind.”

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Using Corning’s networking technology and Qualcomm’s 5g mmWave capabilities, the two said they were working on providing the infrastructure to both enterprises and public buildings, including offices, university campuses, hospitals, hotels and shopping centres.

“Corning and Qualcomm Technologies have a history of delivering infrastructure innovation spanning LTE, LTE-U/LAA, CBRS, and more,” said Puneet Sethi, Qualcomm’s senior director, product management. “We are now pleased to be ramping our fruitful relationship with Corning into the 5G era. We expect this marriage of Qualcomm Technologies’ 5G mmWave technology leadership with Corning’s industry-proven small-cell and enterprise expertise to deliver the capacity and performance benefits of 5G mmWave indoors, via development of cost effective, powerful, and scalable 5G mmWave infrastructure.”

In its own press release, Qualcomm highlighted its role at the forefront of the 5G introduction, having worked with the likes of Samsung, Verizon and Rakuten in their own 5G endeavours.