Broadcom Limited announced a new dual-channel 5GHz Wi-Fi access point platform designed to enable enterprise and public venue operators to optimize performance for all connected devices. The Broadcom 5G-HD platform is built on the new BCM49408 quad-core CPU, enabling client devices that are 5GHz 11ac-capable to maintain the fastest possible speeds by eliminating performance degradation that occurs when slower client devices share traditional single channel 5GHz Wi-Fi access points.
The needs of enterprise Wi-Fi environments have grown, in both the number of users requiring access as well as to support multi-media rich applications and data with a mix of client devices with differing capabilities.
By supporting the 5G-HD platform, client devices can be separated based on capability to ensure high performance, which is especially useful in high-density environments. With the 5G-HD platform, the latest generation of 5G 11ac-capable smart phones, tablets and laptops can enjoy the fastest access possible while legacy client devices can maintain the performance they are used to.
The Broadcom 5G-HD platform uses the BCM49408 CPU at its foundation, an ARM v8 compliant 64-bit quad-core design that operates at 1.8GHz per core and delivers in excess of 5Gbps throughput. The low-power design of the BCM49408 CPU integrates five GE PHYs and a switch for LAN access as well as support for a 2.5G Ethernet PHYs for enhanced backhaul needs.
The 5G-HD platform supports Broadcom’s latest generation “Wave-2” 802.11ac 4x4 radios (BCM43465) that offer support for 160Mhz channels, and up to eight concurrent multi-user MIMO device performance in dual 5G mode – the highest density of MU performance available today on an access point. The BCM43465 also features Broadcom’s industry-leading RangeBoost technology, which provides up to 6dB of link margin at range.
