Rich Fiscus
5 Jan 2012 13:16
OEM chip maker Broadcom got a jump on next week's CES in Las Vegas with the announcement of new Wi-Fi chips capable of speeds over 1 gigabit per second.
They are based on the upcoming 802.11ac specification, which Broadcom is also referring to as 5G WiFi. The standard is expected to be finalized later this year. Broadcom will be demonstrating the technology at CES next week and providing samples to some OEM partners.
In addition to increased speed, Broadcom says the new technology, combined with their 40nm manufacturing process, results in lower power consumption for transmissions at 802.11n speeds.
This is largely related to the increased bandwidth which allows the radio to be on for less time. Of course, if you are transferring data between 802.11ac and 802.11n devices, the bandwidth advantage won't apply.
Broadcom will be making 802.11ac chips in a variety of configurations. Some will utilize a PCIe interface for PCs and routers, offering speeds up to either 1.3Gbps or 867Mbps across two channels. Others will interface with USB for devices like game consoles, set-top boxes, and TVs, offering up to 433Mbps on a single channel.
In recent years, the large number of consumer electronics and mobile devices utilizing wireless network connections in the home has pushed the capabilities of existing wireless networking equipment to its limits. This is particularly true when it comes to HD video applications.
As this trend continues, improving Wi-Fi technology is essential to the evolution of everything from Smart TVs and set-top boxes to smartphones and tablets.