5G SA testing with 6-CA pushes downlink speeds up to 6.3 Gbps
T-Mobile US touted the results of recent field testing that used six-component carrier aggregation (6-CA), combining the carrier’s low and mid-band spectrum on its 5G Standalone network to reach downlink speeds up to 6.3 Gbps.
The test relied on Nokia equipment and Qualcomm’s latest X85 5G modem-RF chips, in a commercial Samsung Galaxy S25 and in a non-commercial mobile test device.
The first test, T-Mobile US said, put the S25 and the Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System (with test software) through its paces and achieved downlink speeds of 4.3 Gbps in “real-world conditions on [the carrier’s] production network”. The second test used the test device and Qualcomm’s X85 5G Modem-RF in what the carrier called “a glimpse into the next evolution of 5G Advanced,” and achieved peak speeds of 6.3 Gbps.
“With 6-Carrier Aggregation, we’re not just adding another feather to our cap—we’re accelerating the future of 5G Advanced,” said Ulf Ewaldsson, president of technology for T-Mobile US. “This milestone isn’t just about speed; it’s about building a network that delivers exactly what our customers need—unparalleled performance, reliability, and innovation.”
The carrier said that it leveraged its 2.5 GHz, PCS, AWS and 600 MHz spectrum in the tests.
“This achievement in collaboration with our long-standing partners, T-Mobile and Qualcomm Technologies, reflects Nokia’s commitment to developing 5G Advanced solutions with a strong focus on the areas that matter the most to our customers.” said Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia. “By combining our Massive MIMO radios, advanced beamforming techniques, high-order Carrier Aggregation, and high-order modulation, we have demonstrated the key building blocks of premium 5G Advanced performance—now successfully validated in a live customer network.”
“We are excited to have played a pivotal role in this achievement, utilizing our Qualcomm X85 Modem-RF to push the boundaries of 5G Advanced downlink speeds,” said Durga Malladi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Technology Planning and Edge Solutions at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This collaboration with T-Mobile and Nokia highlights our commitment to driving innovation and setting new benchmarks in wireless performance.”
T-Mobile US had also tested 6-CA in sub-6 GHz spectrum in January of this year, in what it said was an industry first. The carrier worked with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies to conduct the testing in its live production 5G network and the partners were able to achieve download speeds of 3.6 Gbps in sub-6 GHz spectrum.
The test involved aggregating two channels of 2.5 GHz, two channels of PCS spectrum and two channels of AWS spectrum, according to T-Mobile US, which produced an “effective 245 MHz of aggregated 5G channels.”
In November of last year, T-Mobile US tested New Radio Dual Connectivity (5G DC) on its 5G Standalone (SA) network. The new feature allowed the carrier to aggregate 2.5 GHz and millimeter-wave spectrum in order to boost uplink throughput and capacity, reaching peak speeds of 2.2 Gbps.
T-Mobile US had announced in May of 2023 that it was rolling out four component-carrier aggregation across its 5G Standalone network, which it said at the time could achieve peak speeds of 3.3 Gbps. In that case, T-Mobile US relies on two 2.5 GHz channels, one 1.9 GHz channel and one 600 MHz channel. The first device able to access 4CA capabilities was the Samsung Galaxy S23.
The carrier also touted its testing of five-component-carrier aggregation in sub-6 GHz spectrum Mobile World Congress Barcelona in 2023. In that trial, working with Nokia and Qualcomm, T-Mo aggregated two FDD and three TDD carriers and achieved peak downlink throughput speeds that exceeded 4.2 Gbps.
