MediaTek Lands WiFi 7 Chip Deals with Apple and More
On December 11th, according to Taiwan's Economic Daily, MediaTek, a key player in the semiconductor industry, is set to make waves in the tech world with its groundbreaking strides in WiFi 7 technology. As the smartphone market stages a remarkable comeback and Dimensity series 5G smartphone chip shipments gain momentum, MediaTek is poised to seize the opportunities presented by the imminent WiFi 7 boom in the coming year.
MediaTek has successfully secured major contracts for WiFi 7 from prominent global players, including leading tablet brands (potentially Apple), the Intel laptop platform, and renowned smartphone manufacturers. This achievement marks a significant shift, breaking the longstanding monopoly in the WiFi chip market previously held by Broadcom.
WiFi 7, distinguished by its enhanced transmission speeds and expanded frequency bands, promises theoretical speeds 4.8 times faster than the current WiFi 6 standard and an impressive 13 times faster than WiFi 5. Anticipated to deliver a high-speed, low-latency, and large-bandwidth internet experience, WiFi 7 is positioned to emerge as the mainstream specification for network transmission in the upcoming year.
Examining the landscape of the PC market, major platform suppliers such as Intel and AMD are on track to offer extensive support for WiFi 7 in the coming year. In the realm of smartphones, there are rumors circulating that industry giants like Apple and Samsung are considering the adoption of WiFi 7 specifications in their new devices, potentially catalyzing a substantial WiFi 7 revolution.
MediaTek, traditionally known for steady progress in the WiFi market, has accelerated its efforts since entering the WiFi 6 generation. The company is making significant strides in WiFi 7, boasting a dedicated thousand-person R&D team committed to conquering the WiFi 7 market. In early 2022, MediaTek took a pioneering lead by launching its WiFi 7 product line and entered the design integration phase with clients. The second quarter of 2023 witnesses reports of successful penetration into the high-end router and enterprise markets, showcasing another noteworthy achievement.
Recent industry reports suggest that MediaTek is poised for expansion next year by securing WiFi 7 main chip orders from mainland Chinese smartphone brands, the Intel laptop platform, and the leading tablet brand in the United States. This momentum in shipments is anticipated to disrupt the historical trend of Broadcom's long-standing WiFi chip market monopoly, positioning MediaTek among the top three WiFi chip suppliers globally, alongside competitors like Qualcomm.
Industry analysis underscores the essential nature of WiFi in current terminal devices, emphasizing its role in connectivity. However, due to the integration of WiFi and Bluetooth chips supporting multiple frequency band specifications, the critical point in product validation lies in compliance with the frequency bands specified by various countries, each with its unique differences. This intricate process demands a significant investment of manpower in the testing and validation phase, with the development difficulty of these chips second only to modem chips.
In recent news, even Apple is reported to have adjusted its strategy due to a shortage of development resources, resulting in a delay in its in-house WiFi chip development. Instead, the company is considering the procurement of WiFi chips from other design factories, offering opportunities for Broadcom, Qualcomm, and MediaTek to vie for substantial WiFi 7 chip orders for Apple's iPhone, iPad, and Macbook products.
The latest updates reveal that MediaTek's WiFi 7 chips will be manufactured using TSMC's cutting-edge 6nm process. Production is expected to ramp up in the first half of next year, gearing up to meet the anticipated surge in demand for consumer devices adopting WiFi 7 in the latter half of the year. Stay tuned for further developments as MediaTek continues to redefine the future of connectivity.
