Qualcomm’s X105 adds satellite 5G and NB-IoT for total coverage
Qualcomm announced the X105 5G Modem-RF at MWC 2026, succeeding the X85 modem.
The X105 is the first modem compatible with 5G Advanced Release 19, a step toward 6G, and it supports 5G over satellite with added NR-NTN connectivity for expanded data, voice, and messaging.
The modem adds support for Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) as a fallback for messaging in areas with physical obstructions, such as elevators or parking garages.
It uses agentic AI to improve cellular performance and provides APIs for developers to use predictive intelligence. Compared to the X85, the X105 offers faster speeds: downlink up to 14.8Gbps and uplink up to 4.2Gbps.
The X105 may power cellular connectivity in the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset, potentially appearing in phones like the OnePlus 16 or Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Qualcomm stated the new modem is built for the “agentic AI era.” Qualcomm provided travel, food, and lodging for the trip to MWC 2026 but had no input on coverage.