MediaTek is targeting sub-6GHz first to bring 5G connectivity to the largest markets. It will demonstrate fast 5G sub-6GHz connection with Helio M70 at MWC 2019.
At Mobile World Congress 2019 on Monday, global fabless semiconductor company MediaTek announced advancements to its 5G portfolio to power the rollout of 5G devices in 2020 for the sub-6GHz spectrum.
The company showcased Helio M70 5G modem for the intelligent home running 5G data transfer speeds as well as mmWave over-the-air tests of MediaTek’s 5G antenna arrays. The technology is expected to be in devices later this year.
“Starting with Helio M70, we give manufacturers an ideal solution to deliver a 5G experience with ultra-fast connectivity and intelligent energy savings, all in a compact form factor for elegant smartphone designs,” said TL Lee, General Manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Communication business unit.
The Helio M70 5G modem, MediaTek’s first generation 5G solution, comes with LTE and 5G dual connectivity (EN-DC) with dynamic power sharing capability, plus multi-mode support for every cellular connectivity generation from 2G to 5G.
Helio M70 supports the sub-6GHz frequency band non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) 5G network architectures.
Key features of Helio M70
- Faster speeds: Helio M70 enables 4.7Gbps download speeds and 2.5Gbps upload speeds
- Standards based: The technology is compliant with the 3GPP Rel-15 specification.
- New Radio (NR) & worldwide 4G LTE bands: It supports frequencies from 600MHz to 5GHz and all TDD and FDD bands. Also, it supports a flexible spectrum access mechanism, providing operators with more options as spectrum needs evolve.
- Multi-mode support: It comes with support for 2G, 3G,4G & 5G connectivity and dynamic power sharing across 4G and 5G. This will enable users to have access to the best connectivity speeds no matter where they go.
- Intelligent energy savings: Dynamic bandwidth switching technology allocates 5G bandwidth required for specific applications which improves modem power efficiency by 50 per cent and extends battery life.
- Robust connectivity: It has rich features to ensure the link quality including High Power User Equipment (HPUE) support.
MediaTek is targeting sub-6GHz first to bring 5G connectivity to the largest markets. It will demonstrate fast 5G sub-6GHz connection with Helio M70 at MWC.
MediaTek may support mmWave products in 2020
The company is also developing new cellular technologies for connectivity standards and enhancements, such as mmWave beam forming. MediaTek said it will be ready to support mmWave products in 2020.
Companies collaborating with MediaTek on Radio Frequency Front End (RFFE) technology include Oppo, Vivo and top tier RF suppliers, including Skyworks, Qorvo, and Murata. The companies are trying to define a front-end module solution that accommodates 5G components without impacting a smartphone’s slim profile.
In addition, MediaTek’s wide-ranging ecosystem of edge AI hardware processing solutions and comprehensive software tools is powering AI in smart homes, wearables, smartphones, autonomous cars and other connected devices. The company’s newest AI chipset, the Helio P90, is one of the most powerful AI chipsets available in a smartphone today with an incredible 1165 GMACs performance.
The company is also a key player in the 3GPP LPWA specification for narrow band Internet of Things (NB-IoT). Its MT2625, an ultra-low power, 3GPP Release-14 enabled NB-IoT platform, supports a wide variety of home, civic, industrial or mobile applications.
