Broadcom Introduces 5G WiFi Combo Chip for Smartphones and Tablets

IRVINE, Calif., July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• BCM4335 integrates a complete 5G WiFi system – including the MAC, PHY and RF – with Bluetooth 4.0, FM radio and software on a single chip using 40nm CMOS process
• Only combo chip to address unique interference challenges in systems with both 4G LTE cellular radios and wireless connectivity
• Platform-agnostic design ensures chip can be added to any smartphone or tablet

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today introduced the BCM4335, the industry's first complete 5G WiFi combo chip for smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks and other mobile devices. The new solution furthers Broadcom's wireless connectivity leadership and establishes it as the first chip vendor to sample solutions based on the 802.11ac standard for every major Wi-Fi product segment. For more news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom.

5G WiFi, the 5^th generation of Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard, is a major evolutionary step from the existing 802.11a/b/g/n networks. 5G WiFi dramatically improves the wireless range in the home, allowing consumers to watch HD-quality video from more devices, in more places, simultaneously. With 3X faster speeds, consumers can download web content from a mobile device, and synch large files such as videos, in a fraction of the time it would take on a similar 802.11n device. 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.

Broadcom introduced its family of 5G WiFi chips for access points and PCs at CES in January 2012.  The world's first 5G WiFi routers and notebooks powered by Broadcom's 5G WiFi chips were introduced to the market in Q2 2012. Smartphones and tablets powered by the new BCM4335, which are expected to hit shelves in Q1 2013, will allow consumers to reap the full speed, range and power saving benefits of 5G WiFi on both ends of the wireless connection. For more information on 5G WiFi, visit www.5GWiFi.org.

Proven Track Record in Combo Technology

Broadcom has a proven track record of designing and delivering complete, integrated solutions. The BCM4335 is the company's fifth generation combo chip technology, benefiting from a foundation optimized to enable transformative wireless capabilities in mobile devices. With wireless coexistence algorithms that mitigate radio interference, advanced "sleep modes" that extend battery life, and processing capabilities that off-load power-intensive tasks from the host processor, Broadcom combo chips set the standard for integration, performance and functionality.

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

Market Drivers:

• By 2016, 3 trillion minutes of video content will cross the network every month [1]
• Most network video is now viewed on devices other than PCs [2]
• Mobile data traffic worldwide will grow 18-fold from 2011 to 2016 [3]
• Almost 100% of smartphones and tablets have adopted combo chips for wireless connectivity [4]
• 802.11ac penetration in smartphones is expected to approach 100%, with an expected total available market of almost 1.5 billion Wi-Fi chips in smartphones and tablets by 2016 [5]

Availability

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

For ongoing news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom, read the B-Connected Blog, or visit Facebook or Twitter. And to stay connected, subscribe to Broadcom's RSS Feed.

Quotes:

Peter Cooney, Practice Director, Semiconductors, ABI Research

"Combo chips now dominate the wireless connectivity market in smartphones and tablets, with the size, cost, performance and integration benefits they afford now being applied to other product categories. Broadcom has become an extremely strong supplier in this market by continually adding new technologies and creating compelling products at the right price points. By adding next generation Wi-Fi technology to its latest combo chip, the company continues that tradition and will help accelerate the adoption of high speed 802.11ac connectivity in mobile devices worldwide."

Michael Hurlston, Broadcom Senior Vice President & General Manager, Wireless Connectivity Combo

"Broadcom introduced the industry's first 5G WiFi chips earlier this year and has continued to deliver on an aggressive rollout of solutions to power the entire ecosystem of wireless products. Today, we're the only chip vendor powering the next generation of routers, access points and client devices currently on shelves.  The BCM4335 is the perfect mobile complement to these 5G WiFi products, allowing smartphones and tablets to get the full benefit of the technology at both ends of the wireless connection."

Resources:

[1] Cisco VNI Forecast, 2012

[2] Sandvine Broadband Report, 2011

[3] Cisco VNI Forecast, 2012

[4] ABI Research

[5] ABI Research

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by connecting everything®.  For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, references to the growth of mobile data traffic, 802.11ac penetration in smartphones, and the timing of volume production for the BCM47335 chip and its capabilities. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements used in this release speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

Broadcom^®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything®, the Connecting everything logo and TurboQAM® are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU.  Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Mobile & Wireless