Fastweb And Qualcomm Announce Collaboration To Commercialize 5G Standalone mmWave Services In Italy

Standalone FR2 Capabilities Powered by Qualcomm Technologies Can Enable Fastweb to Bring the Full Benefits of 5G mmWave Fixed Wireless Access to Italian Households and Businesses

Fastweb, one of the major Italian telecommunications operators, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced plans to commercialize 5G standalone (SA) millimeter wave (mmWave) on Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 2 featuring Snapdragon X65 and X62 5G Modem-RF Systems for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). The joint efforts, which are expected to be rolled out in 2022, are intended to enable Fastweb to rapidly scale the reach of its FWA deployments, helping to bring the full potential of 5G to around twelve million homes and businesses in Italy, by the end of 2025.

By combining 5G standalone mode with mmWave using the Snapdragon X65 and X62 5G Modem-RF Systems, Fastweb can deliver ultra-high throughput, up to 1 Gigabit per second, and ultra-low latency broadband access to residential and commercial customers. Users will enjoy fiber-like experiences for video editing, gaming, and streaming, to name a few. As one of the fastest-growing last-mile broadband technologies, Fixed Wireless Access accelerates the reduction of the digital divide in Italy.

5G standalone provides advanced system benefits – including reduced latency in the core network, support for 5G network virtualization, and network slicing – and enables Fastweb to deploy and manage services in a much more flexible and modular way. 5G mmWave, which unlocks frequency bands above 24 GHz, enables 5G FWA to realize its full potential. One year from the launch of the national coverage plan, the 5G FWA network of Fastweb is reaching today more than 400 cities all over Italy.

Qualcomm Technologies is uniquely positioned to provide Fastweb users with the full potential and speed of 5G as it is the first to support all 5G modes. Snapdragon builds on our decades of mobile innovation to deliver premium experiences customers deserve. The Snapdragon X65 and X62 5G Modem-RF Systems are from our 4th generation 5G modem-RF family and designed with an upgradeable architecture to enable rapid rollout of new Release 16 features across mobile broadband, fixed wireless access, industrial IoT and 5G private networks via software upgrades.

“We are very pleased with our continuing collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies,” said Marco Arioli, technology officer, Fastweb. “These ambitious new plans demonstrate our ongoing commitment to support the digital transformation being brought to Italian families and businesses, providing enhanced connectivity and digital services.”

“Today marks another exciting milestone for the 5G ecosystem across Europe as Fastweb continues to invest in the potential of mmWave for Italy,” said Enrico Salvatori, senior vice president, Qualcomm Europe, Inc. and president, Qualcomm Europe/MEA. “Qualcomm Technologies and industry leaders are at the heart of the 5G deployments being rolled out across Europe, and this announcement shows how ambitious operators in Europe are embracing the possibilities of this new class of mmWave spectrum. This new standard of connectivity will enable businesses to create new user experiences that will benefit and enrich our lives.”

About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator and the driving force behind the development, launch, and expansion of 5G. When we connected the phone to the internet, the mobile revolution was born. Today, our foundational technologies enable the mobile ecosystem and are found in every 3G, 4G and 5G smartphone. We bring the benefits of mobile to new industries, including automotive, the internet of things, and computing, and are leading the way to a world where everything and everyone can communicate and interact seamlessly.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a 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.

About Fastweb
With 2.7 million wireline and 2.4 million mobile customers, Fastweb is one of Italy's leading telecommunications operators. The company promotes the digital transformation of the society to build an increasingly connected, inclusive and environmentally sustainable future. Since its establishment in 1999, the company has focused on innovation and network infrastructure to guarantee the highest quality in the provision of ultra-broadband services and to promote the digitalisation of citizens and the country. To help everyone build their future with confidence, the company continuously invests in high-performance Gigabit-speed networks and innovative services, encourages the widest possible development of digital skills among the population, promotes an inclusive culture, is committed to the growth of talents, and supports the fight against climate change. Since 2015, the company has acquired 100% of its energy from renewable sources and has set ambitious emission reduction targets in 2020 endorsed by Science Based Target initiatives. Already Carbon Neutral for direct emissions and for those deriving from the provision of service to its customers, Fastweb has set the ambitious goal of becoming completely Carbon Neutral by 2025. Awarded second place in the Europe's Climate Leaders 2021 ranking pf the Financial Times, Fastweb has received the "EE" (Strong) sustainability rating from Standard Ethics. Fastweb has become a Benefit company since January 2022.