What’s new in mmWave and 5G SoCs and modules?
Highly integrated SoCs and modules are appearing on the market to accelerate 5G developments.
Wireless modules are a popular choice for system designers that don’t want to get bogged down with component-level design. Modules for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, other short-range communications protocols and earlier cellular technologies have been around for some time. There are a growing number now available for high-performance 5G NR cellular communications.
What is 3GPP 5G NR?
5G NR (New Radio) is the technical standard for the air interface of 5G networks. It’s part of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications and provides faster data rates, lower latency, increased capacity and improved connectivity.
5G NR’s frequency bands fall into two main categories: Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2). FR1 bands are defined over a range from 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz and some overlap with 4G bands. FR2 bands range from 24.25 GHz to 71 GHz. In both cases, the availability of these bands varies with geographic region and regulatory authority. 5G networks are characterized as standalone (SA) or not standalone (NSA). Independent networks are SA. A 5G network deployed onto a 4G LTE infrastructure is NSA.
The signal coverage is wider at the lower end of the 5G NR spectrum. Higher bands excel when it comes to data rates, latency and capacity. A growing number of use cases show where these mmWave characteristics are valued. Ericsson cites surveillance and video streaming/broadcast, crowded area capacity management, last-mile networks, AR/VR, smart factories, and small cell base stations for network expansion as examples. More will emerge as companies learn how to best capitalize on the new opportunities that 5G NR technology offers, whether through connecting via public or private 5G networks.
SoCs and modules cutting time to market for developers
Hardware designers face familiar time-to-market pressures delivering reliable 5G NR products and systems. These designs must meet strict criteria for regulatory accreditation. Carrier-certified systems-on-chips (SoCs) and modules are streamlining the development process. Here are the recent innovations from Avnet supplier partners*.
New in mmWave beamforming
Renesas: The F5728 is a highly integrated device for up-converting and down-converting intermediate frequency (IF) signals in the 3 GHz to 9 GHz range to the mmWave 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands. It’s used for beamforming in 5G phased arrays and massive MIMO applications. It employs classic heterodyne mixing and two frequency doublers for 2x or 4x multiplication. All ports are 50 Ohm, single-ended, which makes the device easy to integrate into signal chains. The receive chain delivers 22 dB of conversion gain with a 7 dB noise figure and there is 25 dB conversion gain in transmit mode. The F5728 is controlled via an SPI interface and the F5728EVS evaluation kit is useful for assessing device performance in specific applications.
5G chipsets and modules
Quectel: Quectel announced its latest 5G NR 3GPP Release 17 modules at Mobile World Congress in February 2023. The RG650E and RG650V are designed for fixed wireless access, enhanced mobile broadband (HD video, AR/VR, etc.), and industrial automation applications such as remote control and robotics. Both operate in the sub-6 GHz (FR1) spectrum, support carrier aggregation, and offer bandwidths of 300 MHz and 200 MHz respectively. Maximum data rates are 6 Gbps download and 900 Mbps upload. The modules also feature backward compatibility with LTE and WCDMA networks. Control interfaces include USB, PCIe, PCM, and USXGMII (Universal Serial 10GE Media Independent Interface).
The RG650E and RG650V modules are based on Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 and X72 5G Modem-RF Systems. The modules are complemented by the wide choice of compatible antennas available from Quectel.
The introduction of 5G modules will reduce the design cycle for OEMs implementing 5G networks. One application gaining popularity is fixed wireless access.
Sequans Communications: Announced in May 2023, the Taurus 5G NR modem chipset is designed exclusively for broadband Internet of Things applications and will be sampling at the end of 2023. It’s a dual-core Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) that’s 3GGP Release 17-compliant and designed to operate in FR1 bands from 600 – 7,125 MHz, with 4G LTE fallback where a 5G network is not available. Its high-speed interfaces include native Ethernet and the SoC is suitable for both SA and NSA networks.
Simcom: This company offers sub-6 GHz SoCs and modules, and mmWave M.2 (SSD-style) format modules, all of which have integrated global GNSS functionality. The SIM8380G-M2 module is particularly versatile as it can be used on 5G sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands, and bands allocated for LTE-FDD, LTE-TDD and WCDMA. On mmWave bands, data rates reach 7 Gpbs download with 3 Gbps upload. GNSS coverage spans GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS. The module’s interfaces include USB 3.1, PCIe and GPIO.
Conclusion
New mmWave and 5G SoCs, modules and antennas are being introduced regularly for this fast-growing market. Many 4G LTE module makers have yet to announce their 5G offerings, so it’s something to look out for in the coming months. 5G radios are becoming more integrated, more configurable, smaller and more efficient as semiconductor manufacturing processes advance, so it pays to keep track of what’s new.
* NOTE: This article includes references to recently announced parts that may not yet be available from stock or in volume from the relevant manufacturers. Please contact Avnet Silica for the latest availability information.
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