MediaTek has finally announced its first mmWave compatible 5G modem. Although the technology is the most popular here in the United States (where it is also quite useless), carriers continue to fight its incredible speeds, while comfortably overlooking the many limitations. But soon you will be able to lose the super-fast connection if you also cross the street on a MediaTek phone.
I’m having fun, but the benefits of mmWave are too high, especially in this pandemic era. One of the few real benefits is in places like massive auditoriums or stadiums where congestion with low tires can be a problem due to the large amount of phones. The added frequencies, limited range and high directionality there are absolute bonuses, even if it does not help you much at home.
The new M80 modem supports the above mmWave 5G, and it is also compatible with standalone and non-standalone 5G, sport peak downlink rates of 7.67Gbps and uplink of 3.76Gbps, as well as the expected technologies such as dual 5G SIM, Dual 5G NSA and SA, DSS and dual VoNR, plus the expected sub-6 connectivity for the more useful 5G paths. It also supports the aggregation of carriers on 5G, including mixed duplex, although the support does depend on the frequency: sub-6 5G is “more than two”, while mmWave can do up to 8CC. On LTE, you can expect Cat-19 speeds during download and up to 5CC.
There are also abstract power-saving features such as MediaTek’s Ultra Save, Dynamic Bandwidth Part and Connected Mode DRX, all of which claim their own individual improvements based on environment and usage.
This is a major step towards the M70 modem, which was built into MediaTek’s first integrated 5G chipset (also a world first) in 2019, and simply supports sub-6 5G standards with lower maximum speeds has.
On paper, it’s not quite up to the standards of Qualcomm’s latest X60 modem, and even last year’s X55 beats it in some respects, such as LTE speeds. MediaTek also did not provide us with as much detail as Qualcomm usually does in its announcements, which offers the company no benefits. We must also point out: Qualcomm also offers an end-to-end 5G solution for customers, including things like antenna design, RF receivers and other controllers, which MediaTek did not mention, and this difference may be important for customers (ie, smartphone manufacturers).
Yet mmWave is an obstacle for MediaTek to eradicate if it wants to enter the premium segment in the US and overthrow our Qualcomm monopoly. Based on specifications, the M80 is a contender and can be good with the right disc set.
This is the section where I would say ‘but’, and there are a few that are worth mentioning. For one, the future of phones is a bit bleak. At a launch event earlier this year, the company told us that the product is primarily intended for things like hotspots, IoT and external 5G modems, although we explicitly indicated that phones were on the table as well. It may sound a little strange, but if I had to guess, I think we’ll see an M80-derived modem land in a future chipset. And this is the other catch: MediaTek tells us that it’s not meant to be paired with its current chipset range, so we’ll wait a while before it ends up in consumer – oriented hardware. The slide will also be tested indefinitely later.
MediaTek unveils new M80 5G modem with support for mmWave and Sub-6 GHz 5G networks
A new modem supports SA and NSA architectures at a top speed of 7.67 GbpsMediaTek Inc.
01 Feb 2021, 18:00 ETHSINCHU, Taiwan, February 1, 2021 / PRNewswire / – MediaTek today announced its new M80 5G modem that combines mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G technologies on one chip. The M80 supports ultra-fast speeds on both non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) architectures, with a top speed of 7.67 Gbps in the downlink and 3.76 Gbps in the uplink. The M80 also supports dual 5G SIM, dual 5G NSA and SA networks, and dual Voice over New Radio (VoNR) for more reliable connectivity.
MediaTek’s new M80 5G modem that combines mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G technologies on one chip
“As 5G deployment accelerates, mmWave is becoming increasingly important, especially in US MediaTek’s new 5G modem, support for both sub-6 GHz and mmWave networks is integrated to address this opportunity and give device makers more flexibility , “said JC Hsu, corporate vice president and general manager of MediaTek’s wireless communications business unit. “To enhance the 5G user experience, the new modem supports the latest global cellular standards and specifications, and incorporates MediaTek’s distinctive power-saving technologies and ultra-fast speeds.”MediaTek’s 5G modems are ideal for a range of devices, including smartphones, computers, Mi-Fi hotspots, broadband client equipment (CPE), industrial IoT applications and more. MediaTek’s first generation 5G modem, the M70, is built into MediaTek’s Dimensity range of powerful and energy efficient chips for 5G smartphones. The company’s 5G portfolio also includes the MediaTek T700, which will provide 5G computers that will be on the market in 2021, along with MediaTek’s T750 disk set for 5G fixed wireless access routes (FWA) and mobile hotspot devices.
The M80 has been tested according to industry standards and is expected to sample customers later in 2021. It offers operators around the world support for a full range of radio access technologies:
- 3GPP Release 16 standard
- Sub-6 GHz and mmWave dual connection and carrier aggregation
- 5G NR (FR1) with more than two carrier aggregations
- 5G mmWave (FR2) up to 8CC
- 5G carrier aggregation with mixed duplex (TDD + FDD)
- Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) ready
The M80 integrates MediaTek’s 5G UltraSave technologies that enhance the single-chip design to offer another comprehensive power-saving enhancement. MediaTek’s UltraSave Network Environments and UltraSave OTA Content Awareness Technologies dynamically adjust the power configuration and operating frequency based on the network environment. The M80 also integrates MediaTek’s Dynamic Bandwidth Part (BWP) technology designed to optimize bandwidth to accommodate requests for light or heavy data throughput. With the M80’s Connected Mode DRX (C-DRX) technology, the modem also stays on regularly in switched standby, even when there is no data activity.
MediaTek works closely with operators and partners around the world to provide consumers with faster and more reliable 5G experiences. As a result, the company’s 5G technology has been empowered by more than 100 markets. MediaTek is also a founding member of the OpenRF Association, which was founded to accelerate the time-to-market acceleration of 5G device manufacturers with interoperable 5G RF Front-End (RFFE) solutions.
For more information on MediaTek’s 5G portfolio, please visit: https://i.mediatek.com/mediatek-5g.
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About MediaTek Inc.
MediaTek Incorporated (TWSE: 2454) is a global fabulous semiconductor company that enables nearly 2 billion connected devices per year. We are a market leader in the development of innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile devices, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. Our commitment to innovation has positioned us as a driving force for market power in several key technology areas, including highly power-efficient mobile technologies, automotive solutions and a wide range of advanced multimedia products such as smartphones, tablets, digital televisions, 5G, Voice Assistant Devices ( VAD) and wearable garments. MediaTek empowers and inspires people to expand their horizons and achieve their goals through smart technology, easier and more efficient than ever before. We work with the brands you love to make excellent technology accessible to all, and that drives everything we do. Visit www.mediatek.com for more information.