30 Jul 2012

Broadcom paves the way to 5G mobile

US-based telecoms chip maker, Broadcom, plans to bring IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi to smartphones starting early next year, using a chipset that is said to deliver about 300Mbps.

Described as the industry's first complete 5G WiFi combo chip for smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks and other mobile devices, the BCM4335 integrates a complete 5G WiFi system with Bluetooth 4.0, FM radio and software on a single chip.

As Broadcom says, this is the only combo chip to address unique interference challenges in systems with both 4G LTE cellular radios and wireless connectivity. What's more the platform-agnostic design ensures chip can be added to any smartphone or tablet.

The 802.11ac standard is the next generation of Wi-Fi, designed to provide three to four times the performance of current 802.11n products.

It should dramatically improve the wireless range in the home, allowing consumers to watch HD-quality video from more devices, in more places, simultaneously.

According to Broadcom, since 5G WiFi transfers the same volume of data at a much faster rate, devices enter low-power mode quickly and, as a result, are up to six times more power efficient than equivalent 802.11n solutions.

The standard isn't yet approved, but the Wi-Fi Alliance expects to start certifying products with it in the first quarter of next year.

Broadcom is already shipping chips, based on the upcoming standard, for laptops and routers.

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