Qualcomm, a multinational corporation Technology company, is preparing to launch a low – cost processor later this year that will power new smartphones capable of gigabit #5G for just $99 in their bid to fulfill their mission, “To drive intelligent computing everywhere,” by increasing access to connectivity, which they believe is fundamental in bridging the digital divide.

In a LinkedIn post by the Group’s General Manager in February 2024, the growth of 5G has been astounding as it has reached 1.4 billion connections since its launching five years ago, and is estimated to surpass 4G LTE by over two billion connections within the next decade.

As a way of measuring innovation and pushing 5G forward, Qualcomm has therefore developed a series of technologies to create a gigabit 5G smartphone at a fraction of a cost, that will make access to essential services like banking and healthcare better and more reliable.

“We estimate that a sub-$99 5G smartphone could bring 5G to as many as 2.8 billion people, based on GSMA data. That’s truly massive. With a single device, billions more could soon have access to 5X faster data speeds compared to 4G LTE. That means better, more reliable access to essential services like healthcare, banking and emergency aid. It also opens up untold possibilities for businesses, communities and people,” stated Alex Katouzian, Qualcomm’s General Manager.

To realize the 5G smartphone innovation, Qualcomm uses SA-2Rx capability that comes from meticulously evaluating what technologies their partners need to innovate, while always keeping cost-effectiveness in mind, so as to ensure that their partners deliver products that consumers want.

“Now, you might be wondering how is this possible? We don’t just engineer for lead innovation. We engineer for innovation and cost efficiency. An example of this, and a key breakthrough technology to realize the $99 Gigabit 5G smartphone, is something we call SA-2Rx. By changing the number of receive antennas from four to two on a standalone network, we can reduce costs without significant performance impact. It’s an incredible accomplishment, and a real step towards massively expanding 5G adoption around the world,” added Katouzian.

“The $99 Gigabit 5G smartphone is soon to be a reality. Later this year, Qualcomm is set to launch a dedicated low-cost customized processor using SA-2Rx capability, capable of gigabit speeds on a 5G network. I can’t wait to share more, and help our partners create mobile devices that are going to usher in billions of people into a 5G world. That’s how we drive intelligent computing everywhere,” noted the General Manager.