Japanese carrier NTT Docomo has announced that it will launch a super-fast 5G SA service starting August 1. The so-called New Radio-Dual Connectivity (NR-DC) service will be deployed on three frequency bands: two in the sub-6GHz range (3.7GHz and 4.5GHz) and one mmWave band (28GHz).
With two 5G base stations transmitting and receiving simultaneously, devices will be able to reach download speeds of up to 6.6Gbps. You’ll need the right device for this to work, and there are currently only three on the list of supported devices.
He Sony Xperia 1 VI is your only option if you want to try out the new NR-DC service on day one, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold6 They will also be supported, though that will happen in November at the earliest. You will also need the right subscription and SIM card, and a software update may be required for the phones as well.
| Model | Maximum download (5G SA) | Available from |
|---|---|---|
| Xperia 1 VI SO-51E | 6.6 Gbps | August 1, 2024 |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra SC-52E | 6.6 Gbps | From November 2024 |
| Galaxy Z Fold6 SC-55E | 6.6 Gbps | From November 2024 |
The 6.6Gbps service will initially be rolled out in parts of Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. Once available, it will be the 5G service available in Japan. Right now, Docomo offers download speeds of up to 4.9Gbps, which it introduced in August 2022.
Docomo plans to gradually expand NR-DC to new regions and will offer more mmWave-compatible devices. mmWave is required as the 6.6 Gbps speed is achieved by combining a sub-6 GHz and a mmWave link.
It won’t necessarily be the fastest 5G service in the world, though – we’ll have to wait for testing. For example, several Chinese manufacturers in partnership with China Mobile have been announcing 5.5G support with downlink speeds of up to 10Gbps. real world testThe Xiaomi 14 Ultra reached 5,132Mbps. That’s better than the vivo X100 which reached 3,619Mbps in Another testHopefully, we’ll see how the Xperia 1 VI performs once the new service is available.