March 4, 2014 – Broadcom, a global wired and wireless semiconductor company, launched the industry's first 5G Wi-Fi 2x2 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) SoC for smartphones. The Broadcom BCM4354® SoC enables manufacturers to deliver twice the performance of the 1x1 MIMO Wi-Fi used in today's smartphones, while improving system power efficiency by up to 25% using wireless applications. Broadcom showcased this technology at the 2014 MWC, held from February 24 to 27.

Consumers expect to use fast, always-on smartphones. However, phone performance can be degraded by various factors, such as reception methods and positioning methods. In the past, MIMO systems addressed this issue by using multiple antennas on tablets or larger devices. Through Broadcom's advanced antenna and PHY design, the BCM4354 can provide the benefits of 5G Wi-Fi 2X2 MIMO to smaller platform designs, such as smartphones, while simultaneously reducing the implementation complexity faced by designers. This evolution enables the actual implementation of 2×2 MIMO in smartphones for the first time in the industry and will open the door to a new market segment.

Dino Bekis, Vice President of Marketing for Broadcom’s Wireless Connectivity Combos (WCC), stated, “Smartphones are becoming the center of today’s digital life, and consumers are demanding higher levels of performance and sophistication.” He added, “As a leader in wireless connectivity solutions, Broadcom is providing unprecedented features and performance to keep pace with these demands and the rapidly growing market.”

In addition, Broadcom’s Transmit Beamforming (TxBF) technology improves range-to-speed performance in congested environments for data-intensive applications. For example, when uploading photos and videos to social media from a crowded sports event or concert venue, the speed will be about twice as fast.

Broadcom's BCM4354 SoC supports Rezence wireless power technology developed by the Wireless Charging Association A4WP. All versions are available for all software platforms, including Android, Windows, and Chrome-based operating systems.