- Broadcom releases new Wi-Fi 8 chips for enterprise access points and switches
- Access point chips combine processing, networking and wireless functions in a single device
- Wi-Fi 8 radio chips efficiently manage wireless transmission in enterprise environments
Broadcom announced a new set of enterprise Wi-Fi 8 chipsets covering campus access points and switching hardware.
The launch builds on the company’s earlier disclosure of Wi-Fi 8 radios and expands to a fully wired and wireless infrastructure.
Broadcom is not limiting this update to radio components only. It released new chips for wireless access points and the Ethernet switches that connect them.
New hotspot chips combine computing and wireless functions
For hotspots, Broadcom launched the BCM49438, a new processor chip designed specifically for enterprise Wi-Fi hardware.
The chip handles system control, networking tasks, and on-device processing that would otherwise require multiple components.
At the same time, Broadcom also launched three Wi-Fi 8 radio chips, BCM43840, BCM43844 and BCM43820, which handle wireless transmission themselves.
These newly released chips are intended to be used together in future enterprise hotspots.
Broadcom also introduced the Trident X3+ BCM56390 as a new Ethernet switching chip for enterprise networks.
The chip supports up to 48 multi-gigabit ports, allowing switches to connect a large number of high-performance access points.
Security features such as MACsec, post-quantum cryptography support, secure boot, and hardware root of trust are built directly into the chip.
Broadcom has paired it with recently released multi-gigabit PHY chips, including the BCM84918, BCM54908 and BCM54908E, to manage physical network connections and power supply.
Broadcom says the new access point and switching chips use a unified design approach that allows network data to be collected across both wired and wireless segments in real time.
The chips also support time-sensitive wireless networks using the IEEE 1588 precision timing protocol, intended to reduce latency variations.
The company confirmed that it is now sampling the new hotspot chips, Wi-Fi 8 radio chips, and Trident X3+ switch chip to early customers.
“As businesses increasingly rely on AI for critical operations and security, the demand for robust, intelligent and secure network infrastructure has never been greater,” said Mark Gonikberg, senior vice president and general manager of Broadcom’s Wireless and Broadband Communications Division.
“Our new end-to-end solution for enterprise Wi-Fi and switching, integrating Wi-Fi 8, Multi-Gigabit Ethernet and Edge AI capabilities, provides the essential foundation for organizations to manage risk and thrive in the AI era.
Broadcom’s latest launch doesn’t mention anything about the speed of these chips, and for those expecting Wi-Fi 8 to deliver faster peak speeds, that’s unlikely.
Qualcomm has since revealed that Wi-Fi 8 doesn’t promise faster speeds, but instead focuses on better stability, latency, and performance with more devices connected.
Similarly, MediaTek, a key Nvidia partner already working on the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem, maintains modest expectations based on early internal performance.
Via TechPowerUp
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