Broadcom Unveils 5G WiFi Combo Chip for Smartphones and Tablets

Broadcom today introduced the BCM4335, the industry's first complete 5G WiFi combo chip for smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks and other mobile devices. The chip is a likely candidate for use in future iPhones and iPads.

5G WiFi, is the 5th generation of Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard. It dramatically improves wireless range, offers 3X faster speeds, and is up to six times more power efficient than equivalent 802.11n solutions.

The new BCM4335 integrates a complete, single-stream 5G WiFi system - including the MAC, PHY and RF - with Bluetooth 4.0, FM radio and software on a single silicon die. The platform-agnostic design and integration of the MAC, PHY and RF allows the BCM4335 to be added to any smartphone or tablet regardless of the application processor used. Designed in 40nm CMOS process, the new chips are smaller and more power efficient, giving customers more design freedom.


The BCM4335 introduces the newest version of Broadcom's wireless coexistence technology. Handset makers can use this technology on 4G LTE cellular platforms to minimize the possibility of radio interference between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE, which operate in adjacent radio frequencies. Broadcom's Global Coexistence Interface supports the Bluetooth Special Interest Group's LTE coexistence scheme and can be applied to future Broadcom LTE platforms, as well as 4G cellular platforms from other vendors.

Additional Product Highlights:
● The BCM4335 features the industry's most advanced idle power consumption performance, which significantly extends a mobile device's battery life
● Broadcom's TurboQAM technology implements the highest data-rate 256-QAM mode in 2.4 GHz and enables devices equipped with the BCM4335 to deliver 10 percent faster throughputs than 802.11n speeds when communicating with other 5G WiFi devices
● Key high-throughput mobility interfaces, including SDIO 3.0, PCIe and HSIC, make it suitable for smartphone, tablet and computing platforms
● PHY rates of 433 Mb/s significantly boost the wireless throughput compared to previous generation wireless solutions
● Advanced beamforming, Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) code and Space-Time Block Code (STBC) support for better coverage and more reliable connectivity
● Built-in media processing to off-load host processor
● Integrated support for Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint technologies

Availability:
The BCM4335 is now sampling to Broadcom's early access customers, with full production expected in Q1 2013.

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