T-Mobile's 5G DC Technology Delivers 2.2 Gbps Uplink Speed

T-Mobile says they’ve set a new world record, attaining a 5G uplink speed ever at 2.2 Gbps on a 5G standalone network.

T-Mobile, Ericsson, and Qualcomm achieved the speed using a technology called New Radio dual Connectivity, or 5G DC, aggregating milimeter wave and 2.5 gigahertz spectrum.

The importance of uplink speeds on mobile networks have shifted to a higher priority as technology and media trends have upended consumer behavior, for example, video sharing and livestreaming driven by both new and old mobile platforms, as well as increased video conferencing needs.

And mobile networks can be taxed in large venues such as concerts with thousands of people trying to connect and transmit large amounts of data all at the same time and in the same location.

That’s partly why the test was carried out in SoFi Stadium in California. The 5G DC equipment was provided by Ericsson and the test smartphone powered by a 5G Modem-RF System from Qualcomm.

T-Mobile says they were “able to allocate 60% of the mmWave radio resources for uplink where previous use cases typically allowed up to 20%,” according to a press release.

“With 5G DC, T-Mobile is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to create better experiences in the places that matter most to our customers,” said Ulf Ewaldsson, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “This accomplishment is a testament to the network we’ve built over the last five years and our ability to deliver unparalleled capabilities that extend beyond the devices in our pockets.”

The new uplink speed is a drastic improvement. Just earlier this year, we reported on T-Mobile’s uplink speed record of 345 Mbps.