- At Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies presented a test solution enabling carrier aggregation between the FR1 and FR3 frequency bands.
- This demonstration is part of ongoing research related to future mobile network architectures associated with 6G.
The presented configuration aggregates a channel in the mid-band around 2.5 GHz (FR1) with a channel in the upper mid-band around 7 GHz (FR3). Both bands are operated with a 4×4 MIMO configuration and high-order modulation. The objective of the demonstration was to verify the end-to-end operation of the device under test on an aggregated spectrum covering these two frequency ranges.
Test Platform and Equipment Used
The solution is based on the CMX500 monoblock signaling tester developed by Rohde & Schwarz. This tester is equipped with an RFU18 hardware expansion module, extending the platform’s frequency coverage up to 18 GHz. This module is designed to be added to existing CMX500 series systems to expand their testing capabilities to bands being studied for future networks.
The Device Under Test (DUT) used during the demonstration is the Qualcomm Technologies Mobile Test Platform (MTP). This platform integrates a Qualcomm RF modem and was used to evaluate radio frequency performance and protocol behavior in an FR1-FR3 aggregation configuration.
The FR3 Band in Standardization Work
The FR3 band, between 7.125 GHz and 24.25 GHz, is being studied as part of 6G research. It is considered by several industrial players and research organizations as an option for combining radio coverage and transmission capacity.
This band could be used in terrestrial (TN) and non-terrestrial (NTN) networks. Among the envisioned use cases are extended reality (XR) applications, connected and automated transportation systems, and certain industrial automation applications.
A test platform geared towards future technologies
The CMX500 tester is designed as a modular platform for radio frequency and protocol testing for several communication technologies. Existing systems can be upgraded by adding hardware modules, including the RFU18 card, to extend frequency coverage without replacing the entire equipment.
The platform supports data rates of up to 20 Gbps, 4096QAM modulation, and configurations with up to 16 antenna ports for spatial multiplexing applications. It is used to test various radio technologies, including LTE and 5G NR in SA and NSA modes, as well as NR-NTN and NB-NTN non-terrestrial communications. It also supports Direct-to-Cell and Direct-to-Device scenarios, as well as Wi-Fi 7 technologies and the planned evolutions for the future Wi-Fi 8.
The joint FR1-FR3 carrier aggregation demonstration was presented at the Rohde & Schwarz booth during Mobile World Congress. It illustrates the ongoing work on the test infrastructure required for the development of next-generation communication technologies.
