Broadcom Targets In-Car Connectivity with First 5G WiFi + Bluetooth Smart Combo

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced a new line of wireless chips, targeted for use in automotive infotainment applications. Featuring the latest in 5G WiFi and Bluetooth Smart Ready technology, Broadcom’s wireless automotive chips will allow drivers and passengers to easily sync and stream content from mobile devices to the car’s infotainment system and rear-seat displays. The new chips also enable high-speed connectivity beyond the vehicle, serving Internet and cloud content via LTE telematics or directly from a Hot Spot connection. For more news, visit Broadcom’s Newsroom.

Based on the latest generation IEEE 802.11ac standard, the integrated 5G WiFi technology provides the bandwidth required for multiple in-car displays and resolution of up to 1080p, allowing uncongested 5GHz video to coexist concurrently with 2.4GHz Bluetooth hands-free operation. Bluetooth Smart Ready technology, which allows products to sip power at an incremental rate, will play a vital role in enabling connectivity between the car and wearable tech and body sensors, such as the ability to monitor biometric indicators including driver fatigue, blood alcohol content and glucose levels.

“Car connectivity is the new battleground for product differentiation and the next frontier for Broadcom,” said Rahul Patel, Broadcom Vice President of Wireless Connectivity. “Broadcom is delivering our proven expertise and leadership in wireless connectivity to the automotive market. By providing the same technology and roadmap associated with the fast-moving mobile ecosystem, the possibilities enabled by our new wireless automotive chips are endless.”

Analysts predict the use of in-car Wi-Fi-enabled applications to grow eightfold by 20191 as car makers leverage the latest technologies to differentiate in an increasingly competitive market. One of the most immediate applications enabled by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart is the smart remote, allowing drivers to use their smartphone to remotely adjust seat, temperature and infotainment settings while providing vital data on automotive performance and diagnostics.

V2X Communications

Not only will Bluetooth Smart technology seamlessly sync mobile devices to the vehicle audio and display system, the technology offers great promise for new innovations in vehicle to person, vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communications (V2X). Designed to improve both driver and traffic safety, V2X communications will allow drivers to anticipate upcoming road hazards, traffic incidents and monitor speed limits. For example, when the V2X system reports a blocked road or traffic jam on the route, future vehicles will have the ability to automatically adjust speed or calculate an alternative route. Infrastructure development and smart highway initiatives are already underway throughout Europe and the United States.2

Market Drivers

• Every car is expected to be connected by 2025
• 30 billion devices are expected to be wirelessly connected by 2020
• Automotive wireless market projected to reach $1.6B by 2018
• 41 percent increase in demand for wireless technology in automotive expected 2012 – 2017
• Bluetooth Smart ICs expected to grow >10x by 2018
• Automotive Bluetooth expected to remain the standard connection with mobile devices

Key Features

• Complete 5G WiFi system including MAC, PHY, RF and Bluetooth Smart Ready on a single chip
• Integrated Wi-Fi Direct™, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™ and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ support
• Resolves interference challenges in systems with both 4G LTE cellular radios and wireless connectivity
• Advanced beamforming, Low-Density Parity Check and Space-Time Block support for better coverage

Availability

Broadcom’s wireless automotive portfolio consists of two devices. Both the BCM89335 5G WiFi/ Bluetooth Smart Ready combo chip and the BCM89071 Bluetooth + Bluetooth Smart Ready chip are now sampling.
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Resources

1 IMS 2012
2 its.gov 2013 The Smart Highway
3 GSMA 2012
4 ABI Research 2013
5 IHS 2013
6 Bluetooth SIG

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.

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything® and the Connecting everything logo 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.