Broadcom has unveiled a new double antenna-supporting mobile 5G Wi-Fi chip which it says will offer users download speeds as high as 650 Mbps.
The new release, dubbed the BCM4358, provides 2×2 MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) capabilities for mobile devices. It follows the company’s first-generation 5G Wi-Fi offering, the BCM4354, which was first unveiled at February’s Mobile World Congress.
According to David Recker, a senior director at Broadcom, combining 2×2 MIMO and 5G Wi-Fi in one chip will allow smartphone users to use their devices to full capacity.
He was quoted by pcmag.com as saying: “With the BCM4358 we are addressing critical multi-radio interference challenges while setting a new bar for performance that reflects Broadcom’s continued commitment to be first to deliver the most powerful solutions in the market.”
This isn’t the first time Broadcom has put its faith in 2×2 MIMO. Essentially, the technology makes it easier for devices to locate the strongest available signal path, increasing stability and performance for the user.
The chip’s release actually marks the first time that manufacturers have been able to use Angle-of-Arrival direction-finding technology. With support for Chrome, Android and Windows, it is expected to start appearing in devices from later this quarter, theregister.co.uk reports.
