HMD Secure, Qualcomm and StreamWIDE forge NR Sidelink collaboration - Computer Weekly

HMD Secure, Qualcomm Technologies, and StreamWIDE have formed a collaboration to advance device-to-device (D2D) communications using NR Sidelink technology, aimed at first responders and critical infr... Read original →

This tripartite alliance marks a pivotal shift of 5G NR Sidelink from specification to field deployment. Technically, it pressures RF front-end, baseband SoCs, and secure enclaves to co-optimize—pushing EUV adoption even in mid-tier chips as Qualcomm integrates denser hardware-isolated security blocks. Regulatory-wise, the EU’s CER Directive and FCC mandates are raising certification barriers; delays in EN 303 645 compliance for HMD Secure’s hardened devices could bottleneck rollout. Competitors like Motorola Solutions and Hytera will likely fast-track their MCX-over-LTE stacks toward 5G Sidelink, possibly partnering with European chipmakers such as Infineon for localized alternatives. Within 18 months, expect spillover into industrial IoT and V2X—but mass adoption hinges on 3GPP Release 19 finalizing multi-hop mesh protocols. Protocol dominance equals edge communication hegemony.