At MWC Barcelona, Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies showcased a live demonstration at the Rohde & Schwarz booth (5A80), combining a mid-band channel around 2.5 GHz (FR1) with an upper mid-band channel near 7 GHz (FR3). The setup employs 4×4 MIMO on both bands along with higher-order modulation, enabling end-to-end validation of device performance across the aggregated spectrum. Central to the test configuration is the CMX500 one-box signaling tester from Rohde & Schwarz, enhanced with the new RFU18 board, which extends coverage up to 18 GHz.
The RFU18 is a modular hardware upgrade for the CMX500 platform, providing a straightforward and cost-effective path for customers to evolve their existing testers toward 6G. For the device under test (DUT), Qualcomm Technologies supplied a Mobile Test Platform (MTP) powered by the Qualcomm Modem-RF System, allowing comprehensive verification of RF performance and protocol behavior across the aggregated FR1 and FR3 bands.
The FR3 frequency range (7.125–24.25 GHz) has been recognized by industry and research as an ideal balance of wide-area coverage and high capacity. FR3 is expected to support demanding applications in both terrestrial networks (TN) and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including eXtended Reality (XR), connected and autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation. By validating FR3 as an additional frequency range for future networks, Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies are contributing to the acceleration of 6G development and preparing the ecosystem for next-generation connectivity.
Goce Talaganov, Vice President Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, said: “Through our ongoing collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, we continue to push the boundaries of wireless communications. As the ecosystem moves toward 6G, we’re showing how easy innovation can be with our test equipment. In response to customer demand, we are extending the CMX500 platform to 18 GHz – so that our customers gain headroom for FR3 evolution and higher-frequency emissions and harmonic testing.”
Tingfang Ji, Vice President of Engineering and Head of 6G Research at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said: “Our collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz highlights the importance of aggregating existing spectrum bands with new 6G spectrum in FR3 to establish 6G as the high efficiency digital infrastructure for the 2030s. By validating new spectrum layers and advanced RF capabilities using our MTP powered by Qualcomm Modem-RF System, we are accelerating innovation across the ecosystem and helping prepare devices and networks for the next-generation of services.”
Future-ready CMX500 platform for 6G:
The CMX500 is a modular, high-performance one-box signaling tester designed for comprehensive multi-technology testing, from RF measurements to protocol validation across all key frequency ranges (FR1, FR2, and FR3). Existing CMX500 platforms can be easily upgraded with the new RFU18 board, extending frequency coverage and capabilities without the need to replace the entire system, providing users with a simple and cost-effective upgrade path.
Engineered for data rates of up to 20 Gbps, the CMX500 is among the most versatile mobile device test platforms available. It supports a wide dynamic range, 4096QAM, and up to 16 device antenna ports for advanced spatial multiplexing. Its multi-band capabilities enable testing of LTE and NR in SA/NSA modes, NR-NTN, NB-NTN, Direct-to-Cell (D2C/DTC) scenarios, and WLAN, including Wi‑Fi 7 and future Wi‑Fi 8 standards.
At MWC Barcelona 2026, visitors can experience the live FR1–FR3 carrier aggregation demonstration at the Rohde & Schwarz booth (5A80, Hall 5) from March 2–5, 2026. Company experts will showcase how the CMX500 with RFU18 empowers faster 6G device and network innovation, providing insights into the next generation of wireless connectivity.
