MediaTek finally unveiled its first mmG compliant 5G modem. Although the technology is more popular here in the United States (where it is also kind of useless), operators continue to defend their incredible speeds while conveniently ignoring its many limitations. But soon, you may also lose that super-fast connection when crossing the street on a MediaTek phone.
I joke, but the advantages of mmWave are really overstated, especially in this pandemic era. One of the few genuine benefits is in places like large auditoriums or stadiums where low band congestion can be an issue due to the sheer volume of phones. The added frequencies, limited range and high directionality are absolute bonuses, even if it still doesn’t help you much at home.
The new M80 modem supports the aforementioned mmWave 5G and is also compatible with autonomous and non-autonomous 5G, peak sports downlink rates of 7.67 Gbps and 3.76 Gbps uplink, as well as expected technologies such as dual 5G SIM, Dual 5G NSA and SA, DSS and Dual VoNR, in addition to the sub-6 connectivity expected for the most useful 5G pathways. It also supports 5G carrier aggregation, including mixed duplex, although support varies based on frequency: sub-6 5G is “more than two”, while mmWave can do up to 8CC. At LTE, you can expect Cat-19 download speeds and up to 5CC.
There are also energy saving features described in an abstract way, such as MediaTek’s Ultra Save, Dynamic Bandwidth Part and Connected Mode DRX, all claiming their own individual improvements based on environment and usage.
This is a substantial improvement over the M70 modem, which was built on MediaTek’s first integrated 5G chipset (also the first in the world) in 2019, and only supported sub-6 5G standards at slower maximum speeds.
On paper, this isn’t exactly up to the standards of Qualcomm’s latest X60 modem, and even last year’s X55 outperforms it in some ways, like LTE speeds. MediaTek also failed to provide us with the level of detail that Qualcomm usually gives in its ads, which does not bring any benefit to the company. We should also point out: Qualcomm also provides an end-to-end 5G solution for customers, including things like antenna design, RF transceivers and other controllers, which MediaTek did not mention, and that difference could be important for customers (i.e., smartphone manufacturers).
Still, mmWave is an obstacle for MediaTek to overcome if it wants to enter the premium segment in the U.S. and try to overthrow our Qualcomm monopoly. Based on the specifications, the M80 is a competitor and could do well with the right chipset.
This is the part where I would say “but” and there are some that are worth mentioning. On the one hand, your future on phones is a little hazy. At a launch event earlier this year, the company told us that the product was primarily intended for things like access points, IoT and external 5G modems, although we were explicitly told that the phones were also on the table. This may seem a little strange, but if I had to guess, I think we will see an M80-derived modem in a future chipset. And that is the other problem: MediaTek tells us that it was not meant to be paired with its current chipset line, so we will have to wait before it reaches any consumer-oriented hardware. The chip will also not be tested until an indefinite time “later this year”.
MediaTek launches new M80 5G modem with support for mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G networks
The new modem supports SA and NSA architectures, with a peak speed of 7.67 GbpsMediaTek Inc.
February 1, 2021, 6:00 pm ETHSINCHU, Taiwan, February 1, 2021 / PRNewswire / – MediaTek today announced its new M80 5G modem that combines mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G technologies on a single chip. The M80 supports ultra-fast speeds in both non-autonomous (NSA) and autonomous (SA) architectures, with a peak rate of 7.67 Gbps on the downlink and 3.76 Gbps on the uplink. The M80 also supports dual 5G SIM networks, dual 5G NSA and SA and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) for more reliable connectivity.
The new M80 5G modem from MediaTek that combines mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G technologies on a single chip
“As 5G implementations accelerate, mmWave is becoming increasingly important, especially in the US. MediaTek’s new 5G modem integrates support for sub-6 GHz and mmWave networks to address this opportunity and give device manufacturers more flexibility, “said JC Hsu, corporate vice president and general manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Business Unit. “To enhance users’ 5G experiences, the new modem supports the latest global cellular standards and specifications and includes MediaTek’s unique energy-saving technologies with ultra-fast speeds.”MediaTek’s 5G modems are ideal for a variety of devices, including smartphones, PCs, Mi-Fi hotspots, broadband equipment at customer premises (CPE), industrial IoT applications and more. MediaTek’s first generation 5G modem, the M70, is integrated into MediaTek’s Dimensity series of powerful, low-power chipsets for 5G smartphones. The company’s 5G portfolio also includes the MediaTek T700, which will equip the 5G PCs expected to hit the market in 2021, along with MediaTek’s T750 chipset for 5G fixed wireless access routers (FWA) and mobile hotspot devices.
The M80 has been tested against industry standards and is expected to be sampled with customers as early as 2021. It offers operators around the world support for a full range of radio access technologies:
- 3GPP version 16 standard
- Dual Sub-6 GHz and mmWave connectivity and operator aggregation
- 5G NR (FR1) with more than two aggregations of carriers
- 5G mmWave (FR2) up to 8CC
- 5G carrier aggregation with Mixed Duplex (TDD + FDD)
- Ready for dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS)
The M80 integrates MediaTek’s 5G UltraSave technologies that enhance the single chip design to provide another layer of broad energy-saving enhancements. MediaTek’s UltraSave Network Environment Detection and UltraSave OTA Content Awareness technologies dynamically adjust the power configuration and operating frequency based on the network environment. The M80 also incorporates MediaTek’s Dynamic Bandwidth Part (BWP) technology, which is designed to optimize the use of bandwidth to accommodate light or heavy data transfer requests. In addition, with the M80’s Connected Mode DRX (C-DRX) technology, the modem will regularly remain on in connected standby mode, even when there is no data activity.
MediaTek works closely with operators and partners around the world to bring consumers faster and more reliable 5G experiences. As a result, the company’s 5G technology has been validated by operators in more than 100 markets. MediaTek is also a founding member of the OpenRF Association, which was founded to help accelerate time to market for 5G device manufacturers with interoperable 5G RF Front-End (RFFE) solutions.
To learn more about MediaTek’s 5G portfolio, visit: https://i.mediatek.com/mediatek-5g.
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About MediaTek Inc.
MediaTek Incorporated (TWSE: 2454) is a global semiconductor company without a factory that enables almost 2 billion connected devices per year. We are a market leader in the development of innovative chip (SoC) systems for mobile devices, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. Our dedication to innovation has positioned us as a driving force in the market in several important technology areas, including high energy efficient mobile technologies, automotive solutions and a wide range of advanced multimedia products, such as smartphones, tablets, digital televisions, 5G, mobile devices. voice assistant (VAD) and wearables. MediaTek empowers and inspires people to expand their horizons and achieve their goals through intelligent technology, more easily and efficiently than ever before. We work with the brands you love to make great technology accessible to everyone, and that drives everything we do. Visit www.mediatek.com for more information.