- Industry first to integrate a new modem and networking SoC into a single chip, providing 10 ASSPs capabilities
- Provides high-speed traffic transmission optimized for radio and 25% improved capacity
- Presented a successful integration with Provision, acquired 6 months ago

November 1, 2011 – Broadcom, a global wired and wireless semiconductor company, today announced the BCM85620, an innovative system-on-chip (SoC) for 4G/LTE microwave backhaul. The BCM85620 is the industry's first SoC to integrate a baseband modem and network processor into a single chip, providing a solution that offers high bandwidth exceeding the gigabit bandwidth required for mobile backhaul.

The BCM85620 significantly reduces power consumption and system costs while integrating up to 10 Application-Specific Standard Parts (ASSP) functions into a single SoC. In addition, today's announcement signifies the successful integration of Provision, which was acquired six months ago.
As the number of mobile users and the use of multimedia services, including streaming video, increase, mobile operators are investing in next-generation mobile backhaul networks to meet customer expectations for features and services. Today, mobile operators are facing challenges regarding backhaul data from cell base stations to core networks to handle the rapid growth of wireless traffic and the evolution of 4G/LTE networks.
The BCM85620 provides wirelessly optimized traffic transmission, including a robust clock, through a packet network required for network synchronization with enhanced wireless performance and advanced networking features. In addition, the BCM85620 provides 1.25Gbps throughput and 25% higher capacity than existing solutions to enable wireless backhaul systems to support the demanding requirements of 4G/LTE networks.

The major market conditions are as follows.
 Global mobile backhaul costs are expected to reach US$8 billion by 2014.
Ethernet is expected to become the most dominant carrier technology for mobile backhaul by 2014.
Microwave backhaul accounts for more than 55 percent of total backhaul connections and is the most widely used technology in the global mobile backhaul market.

The key features of the newly introduced BCM85620 are as follows.
 Provides Gigabit or higher performance with industry-leading capacity (1024QAM module)
Packet fragmentation and header compression capabilities are integrated with ACM-aware traffic management to enable networking optimized for radio.
 Automatic bandwidth provision with strong ACM technology
 Reduced system costs and improved frequency efficiency and system performance through high noise tolerance
 Synchronization over packet networks - Supports SyncE and 1588 via ACM and protection switching
 Low latency for 4G networks
 Integrated Carrier-Class Network Processor

"Dan Charash, Senior Director and General Manager of Broadcom's Microwave Business Unit, said, 'Today's transition to 4G and LTE networks requires higher capacity and packet traffic in mobile backhaul networks.'" “BCM85620 enables existing networks to move to 4G/LTE cost-effectively and seamlessly by providing industry-leading integration and performance beyond gigabit,” he said. “By introducing this innovative technology just six months after acquiring Provisiont, Broadcom demonstrates its ability to rapidly adopt new technologies and successfully integrate them.”

Michael Howard, co-founder and analyst of Carrier Networks at Infonetics, stated, "The mobile backhaul space is undergoing a significant transformation. Increasing demands for capacity and the shift from voice to data are driving mobile backhaul networks to provide high-capacity IP/Ethernet connectivity. The evolution to 4G/LTE networks will require even higher capacity and more cell site connections." He added, "Microwave currently accounts for 55% of physical backhaul connections. Innovation in this space will allow microwave to maintain its position within the industry as the backhaul solution of choice."