Vodafone, Qualcomm, and Ericsson have completed 5G Millimeter wave (mmWave) trials in the UK.

In an announcement, carrier Vodafone said the two trials had been a success.

mmWave spectrum can carry large quantities of data, and has the potential to improve mobile speeds in busy areas, such as train stations, football stadiums, and concert venues.

Two trials were carried out, including one in Newbury, which used full spectrum bandwidth (800 MHz of mmWave spectrum).

Vodafone notes that its trial in Newbury outlines the potential for Fixed Wireless Access for home broadband, and mobile network congestion in busy locations.

According to Vodafone, within 100 meters of the mast, the devices (from Askey and ZTE plus MiFi from Netgear, powered by the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System) achieved peak download speeds of up to 4Gbps and 500Mbps for uploads.

At a range of 400 meters, the peak download speeds were 2.3Gbps and 200Mbps for uploads, while up to 700 meters away, the peak download speed measured 500Mbps. The carrier added that latency was 4-5 times lower than existing 5G capabilities.

"While mmWave is a niche technology for mobile network operators in the UK, the uplift to customer experience will be incredible," said Andrea Dona, chief network officer, Vodafone UK.

"With installations on a small number of sites, millions of people could benefit multiple times per week. This trial demonstrates how we can significantly improve customer experience by strategically targeting today’s challenges."

A second trial of the 5G mmWave technology was tested at an unnamed London football ground, which has a capacity of 20,000. The purpose of the trial was to provide enhanced capacity to Vodafone customers in crowded public venues such as stadiums, concerts, and transport hubs.

The trial was carried out over Vodafone's network and used Ericsson’s AIR (antenna-integrated radio) 5322 and Baseband 6651 technology, plus various devices powered by the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System. The trial achieved peak download speeds of 2.8Gbps at the ground.

“Our successful trials with Vodafone and Qualcomm demonstrate the potential of mmWave technology to revolutionize connectivity experiences," added Evangelia Tzifa, chief technology officer, networks & managed services, Ericsson UK and Ireland.

"With the ability to deliver fiber-like speeds, and support for massively dense traffic environments, such as stadiums, mmWave opens the door to transformative connectivity experiences for mobile users, as well as new advanced use cases across various sectors.”