--- markdown_generated_at: "2026-11-04" title: "Qualcomm is driving the development, launch, and expansion of 5G." url: "https://www.qualcomm.com/5g" --- # Qualcomm is driving the development, launch, and expansion of 5G. Qualcomm 5G Leadership 5G Foundations ## Qualcomm and the story of 5G. As the new mobile standard after 4G, 5G is designed to provide more connectivity than ever before. 5G enables ultra-high-speed connections with greater reliability, higher performance, and lower latency. These capabilities will enable a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected, opening the door to new industries, delivering new services, and creating immersive experiences for end users. Qualcomm invented underlying technologies that make 5G work, and our one technology roadmap enables us to scale and lead the global expansion of 5G across industries. ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/side-image-1_girl-on-phone?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/chart-1-v2?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/fb3-chat-box?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### What is 5G? Everything you need to know about 5G—how it works, why it's important, and how it's changing the world. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/what-is-5g) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/fb3-timeline?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### The Qualcomm 5G timeline From the early breakthroughs behind mmWave to 5G proliferation in 2020—Qualcomm's 5G timeline. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/research/5g/5g-timeline) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/fb3-building?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### Building and expanding 5G Read about the key inventions that led to the global expansion of 5G in our case study. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2020/11/us-chamber-commerces-gipc-publishes-case-study-about-qualcomm) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/fb3-headphones?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### The real story of 5G Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon talks about the journey to 5G and the intensive R&D behind it. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/podcast/2019/08/episode-31-real-story-5g-president-cristiano-amon) MAKING 5G POSSIBLE ## Our 5G innovations connect billions of people and devices. Our leadership is evident everywhere you see 5G. In fact, Qualcomm has worked on the major changes in the mobile industry from 2G to 5G. Our innovation breakthroughs, which began years ahead of the industry, are driving the 5G standards—and the benefits that define 5G including speed, responsiveness, and capacity. Our products are accelerating the expansion of 5G, and our work behind the scenes is enabling the growth of the broader 5G ecosystem. ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/man-on-computer?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha&wid=700) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/chart-2-v2?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/1-research1?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### 5G research From 5G-NR to 5G-based Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X), our R&D is conceiving, developing, and testing the 5G ideas that will transform industries and improve lives. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/research/5g) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/2-5g1?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### 5G standards Qualcomm's inventions that helped enable 5G are driving the global 5G standard through our fundamental contributions to 3GPP. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/research/standards) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/3-chip1?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### 5G products We create cutting-edge 5G products. From automotive to XR, our platforms are designed to deliver high-speeds, superior coverage and power efficiency. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/products/technology/5g) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/4-documentation1?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### 5G licensing Qualcomm is the global 5G IP leader with more than 100 5G license agreements worldwide, and our investments in growing the mobile ecosystem are driving new opportunities for licensees. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/licensing) WHAT 5G ENABLES ## 5G is creating new experiences, new industries, and enriching lives. Qualcomm is applying 5G to three primary types of connected services. The first is enhanced mobile broadband. It makes our smartphones faster, more reliable, and allows for new immersive experiences like extended reality. Next are mission-critical communications that leverage the improved reliability and low latency of 5G for remote control of critical infrastructure, vehicles, and medical equipment. And, finally, we're using 5G innovation to enable massive IoT that seamlessly connects virtually everything from smart home devices to smart cities. ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/boy-with-tablet?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha&wid=700) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/fb3-code?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### 5G use cases 5G is enabling new use cases for consumers - see what you can do with a phone powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 5G Mobile Platform. ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/fb3-cash?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### The global 5G economy The rollout of 5G is expected to increase the GDP by 2.1 trillion by 2035. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/the-5g-economy) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/social-media-icon-blue?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### Digital divide Learn how 5G technology is solving the world's biggest problems, such as inequalities in access to high-speed internet and other digital technologies, through our connectivity, processing, and AI solutions. [Learn more](https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/digital-divide) The latest on 5G ## Cristiano Amon at GSMA Thrive: 5G is essential to building a more resilient world. Like the Internet and electricity, we're going to rely on 5G as a foundation to connect everything. At GSMA Thrive, Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon discussed what this means for the global economy, society, and users both today and in our future. ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/cristiano-side-image_1?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha&wid=700) ## The latest on 5G - OnQ Blog - [Reimagining Fixed Wireless Access: Qualcomm Dragonwing FWA Gen 6 Elite Platform](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2026/10/dragonwing-fwa-gen-6-fixed-wireless-access-platform) - Oct 12, 2026 | 4 min read - Tags: [Dragonwing](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=Dragonwing), [Fixed Wireless Access](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=Fixed%20Wireless%20Access), [5G](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=5G) - OnQ Blog - [Who owns 6G IP: The enduring value of foundational wireless innovation](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2026/09/6g-ip-foundational-wireless-innovation) - Sep 10, 2026 | 3 min read - Tags: [6G](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=6G), [5G](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=5G), [Inventor](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=Inventor) - OnQ Blog - [Why standards-based 5G NR NTN is the future of satellite connectivity](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2026/06/x105-5g-nr-ntn-satellite) - Jun 10, 2026 | 6 min read - Tags: [5G](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=5G), [Modems](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=Modems), [RF](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=RF) - OnQ Blog - [Introducing the Qualcomm Dragonwing Mobile Broadband Multimedia (MBM) family: The future of interactive broadband](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2026/05/qualcomm-dragonwing-mbm-family-announcement) - May 20, 2026 | 2 min read - Tags: [Dragonwing](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=Dragonwing), [Broadband](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=Broadband), [5G](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=5G) - OnQ Blog - [Modernizing RF exposure management](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2026/03/modernizing-rf-exposure-management-smart-transmit-tas) - Mar 24, 2026 | 3 min read - Tags: [RF](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=RF), [5G](https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq?tags=5G) ## Stay in the know on 5G. [Follow Qualcomm on X](https://twitter.com/Qualcomm?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) ![](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/dmqualcommprod/mail-icon-white?$QC_Responsive$&fmt=png-alpha) ### Sign up to receive information about Wireless Technology solutions, the latest industry news and more. [Learn more](https://assets.qualcomm.com/subscription-center-sign-up.html)