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Qualcomm at IFA: Technology Leads Us Through Difficult Times

Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon spent a good deal of time updating the IFA audience on the progress of 5G since its 2019 launch.

Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon once again addressed an IFA keynote at the IFA 2020 Special Edition event. So much has happened since his 2019 address and Qualcomm has painted a picture for the future that involves a series of partnerships with the goal of advancing technologies like AI, 5G, Snapdragon advancements, connected car, augmented reality and advancements in noise reduction technology to name but a few.

“We want to emphasize the key role technology and innovation play in our lives today – especially during these unprecedented times. In just a few months, everyone has come to see the importance of connectivity in their daily lives, and in doing so validated many of the future use cases of 5G and other emerging technologies,” Amon explained. “Mobile technologies, led by 5G and AI, are powering new devices, delivering more immersive experiences and connecting everything to the cloud. Combined, this will enable new capabilities that will drive growth and make for a more resilient economy and society. Qualcomm is proud to be working with the broader ecosystem as it answers this important call to innovate to address current needs and future opportunities.”

5G Rollout Rolls Along

Amon spent a good deal of time updating the IFA audience on the progress of 5G since its 2019 launch. There are currently 80 commercial 5G networks in 40 countries around the globe, with over 300 more investing in the technology. Millions of people are already using 5G phones and Amon added, “We expect more than 1 billion 5G connections by 2023 – reaching that milestone two years faster than 4G.”

There are hundreds of products launched or in development based on Qualcomm’s portfolio of 5G solutions. 5G is also gaining momentum beyond smartphones. It’s rapidly expanding worldwide and permeating new segments and industries, such as the PC and enterprise, healthcare, factories and more.

Amon remains excited that Qualcomm is helping deliver the technologies driving the future of the internet.

“The opportunity will be significant for nearly every sector once 5G is broadly deployed. According to the updated 5G economy report from IHS Markit, advancements in the enterprise, extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), the Industrial Internet of things (IIoT), and more are on the horizon,” he said. “The innovations 5G enables in these fields will not only enrich our lives, but also significantly boost our global economy. IHS Markit estimates that 5G will enable US$13.2tn (€11.09tn) in global sales enablement by 2035. Additionally, the global 5G value chain is expected to generate US$3.6tn (€3.02tn) in economic output by 2035, while supporting 22.3 million jobs.”

Amon added that there are myriad possibilities that 5G is opening up, particularly in the areas of entertainment.

mmWave for Mobile?

The deployment of mmWave for mobile broadband is another area Amon excitedly touched on.

“Many people told us it would not be possible to use mmWave for mobile. We proved them wrong. We’re talking about spectrum bands above 24 GHz. Spectrum is abundant at these high frequencies and can support extreme data speeds and capacity that will reshape the mobile experience,” he explained. “These bands are highly complex, but Qualcomm solved those problems and right now, 120 operators are working on rolling out mmWave to deliver amazing new experiences. 5G really has the potential to positively affect all of us, across the full cross-section of society.”

Tech Becomes a Beacon

Amon also referenced the difficulties that 2020 has thrown our way, but added how essential technology has been in helping us through this tough time.

“Technology has transformed years of possibilities into expectations virtually overnight and in doing so strongly validated the mobile roadmap. Mobile technology, led by 5G and AI are powering new devices, to deliver new immersive experiences and transform the global economy to drive growth and make it more resilient. Qualcomm is proud to be working with the tech industry as it answers this important call to innovate to address current needs and future opportunities,” Amon told the IFA 2020 Special Edition audience.