Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm Technologies validated 5G FWA vRAN Power Class 1 (PC1) capability for fixed wireless access on a vRAN setup, marking what the vendors claim as an industry first for the combination of higher-power device transmission and fully software-driven RAN.
Power Class is a 3GPP standard that defines how strongly a device can transmit its signal. The vendors explained that the higher power level grows increasingly relevant as uplink demand rises alongside data and time-intensive applications, including AI-driven services, AR/VR, and autonomous systems, particularly where users sit at the edge of coverage or in indoor areas with weaker signals.
Test Setup and Key Results
The test was conducted in Samsung’s R&D lab using its vRAN stack and 3.7GHz massive MIMO radios paired with Qualcomm Technologies’ X85 chipset-equipped test device. The focus centered on improving 5G FWA vRAN uplink performance and extending usable coverage, which the partners said will be important as networks carry more interactive and AI-led traffic.
Among the key results, Samsung stated that applying PC1 delivered up to 10 times higher uplink throughput at the cell edge compared with Power Class 1.5, translating into smoother video calls and faster uploads across low-signal areas. The companies stated PC1 could extend coverage range by up to 40 percent compared to PC1.5 to help devices remain connected further from a base station.
5G FWA vRAN Commercial Timeline
Building on the lab milestone, Samsung and Qualcomm also recently conducted field tests on a US tier-1 operator’s network. The feature is expected to be commercially available in 2027. While Samsung did not disclose which operator participated in the field tests, the vendor has a long history of vRAN development with Verizon.
Industry Significance and Uplink Demand
Higher power transmission becomes critical as networks face growing uplink demands from artificial intelligence applications and immersive technologies. The test demonstrates how 5G FWA vRAN solutions can improve coverage in challenging environments. Samsung’s approach using software-driven RAN architecture offers operators flexibility in deploying networks without relying on traditional hardware-centric infrastructure.
Path Forward for 5G Networks
The validation of Power Class 1 on telecommunications networks represents progress toward more efficient mobile architectures. As networks prepare for broader commercial deployments, vendors continue refining capabilities that address real-world coverage challenges. The 2027 commercial availability timeline gives operators time to integrate the technology into their network plans.
