Rohde & Schwarz Achieves New Milestone For 6G With FR1–FR3 Carrier Aggregation

Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have reached another important milestone for the 6G ecosystem research and development, demonstrating carrier aggregation across the FR1 and FR3 frequency bands. This joint achievement will be presented live at MWC Barcelona 2026.

At MWC Barcelona, ​​Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies will be presenting a live demonstration at the Rohde & Schwarz booth (5A80) in which a mid-band channel around 2.5 GHz (FR1) is aggregated with an upper-mid-band channel around 7 GHz (FR3). Both bands utilize 4x4 MIMO and higher-order modulation. With this setup, the two companies are validating end-to-end device performance across the aggregated spectrum.

At the heart of the test setup is the Rohde & Schwarz CMX500 one-box signaling tester, which has been enhanced with the new RFU18 RF front end to cover frequencies up to 18 GHz. The RFU18 RF front end represents a modular hardware upgrade for the CMX500 platform, offering customers a straightforward and cost-effective way to expand existing testers for 6G . Qualcomm Technologies provides a mobile test platform (MTP) based on the Qualcomm® Modem-RF System as the device under test (DUT), enabling comprehensive validation of RF performance and protocol behavior across the aggregated bands in FR1 and FR3.

The FR3 frequency band (7.125 to 24.25 GHz) is of particular interest to industry and research because it enables wide-area coverage with high capacity. FR3 is intended to support demanding applications such as extended reality (XR), connected and autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation in terrestrial (TN) and non-terrestrial ( NTN ) networks. By validating FR3 as an additional frequency range for future networks, the partners are contributing to the development of 6G and the preparation of the ecosystem.

Goce Talaganov, Vice President Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, explains: “Through our intensive collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in mobile communications. As the ecosystem develops the foundations for 6G, we are demonstrating how easy innovation can be with our test equipment. To meet customer demands, we are extending the CMX500 platform to 18 GHz – giving our customers more flexibility for FR3 evolution as well as for emissions and harmonic testing at higher frequencies.”

Tingfang Ji, Vice President of Engineering and Head of 6G Research at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., commented: “Our collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz underscores the importance of merging existing frequency bands with new 6G spectrum in the FR3 range to establish 6G as a highly efficient digital infrastructure for the 2030s. By validating new spectrum layers and advanced RF capabilities with our MTP based on the Qualcomm Modem-RF System, we are contributing to accelerating innovation in the ecosystem and preparing devices and networks for the next generation of mobile services.”

Future-proof CMX500 platform for 6G
The CMX500 is a modular, high-performance, and future-proof one-box signaling tester for comprehensive multi-technology testing – from RF to protocol across all relevant frequency bands (FR1, FR2, and FR3). All existing CMX500 platforms can be upgraded with the new RFU18 RF front end to expand frequency coverage and functionality without replacing the entire system, providing a simple upgrade option.

The CMX500 is designed for data rates up to 20 Gbps and represents one of the most versatile test platforms for mobile devices. It supports a wide dynamic range, 4096QAM, and up to 16 antenna connections on the device under test for advanced space multiplexing. With its multiband capabilities, it also supports testing for LTE and NR in SA and NSA modes, NR-NTN, NB-NTN, Direct-to-Cell (D2C/DTC), and WLAN including Wi-Fi 7 and, in the future, Wi-Fi 8 (https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/de/loesungen/wireless-communications-testing/wireless-standards/wlan-wi-fi/wi-fi-8-testing/wi-fi-8-testing_258504.html) .

Visitors to MWC Barcelona 2026 can experience the joint demo of the FR1–FR3 ​​carrier aggregation at Rohde & Schwarz booth 5A80 in Hall 5 from March 2nd to 5th, 2026, and learn from the company's experts how the CMX500 platform with RFU18 RF frontend enables faster innovations for 6G devices and networks.

About Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz, with its three divisions – Test & Measurement, Technology Systems, and Networks & Cybersecurity – stands for a secure and connected world. For over 90 years, this globally operating technology group has been pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible in the development of cutting-edge technologies. Its leading products and solutions empower customers in business, government, and public sectors to shape their technological and digital sovereignty. The family-owned company, headquartered in Munich, operates independently, with a long-term perspective, and with a focus on sustainability. In fiscal year 2024/2025 (July to June), Rohde & Schwarz generated revenues of €3.16 billion. As of June 30, 2025, the company employed more than 15,000 people worldwide.