
Chip makers go head to head over WiFi 7

Mediatek and Broadcom are set to go head to head with second generation WiFi 7 chips.
Broadcom is shipping its second generation chips to early adopters, while Mediatek is set to ship its second generation WiFi 7 devices next quarter.
- Second generation Broadcom WiFi 7 chips add IoT support
- MediaTek in first live WiFi 7 technology demonstrations
- First 6nm WiFi 7 chips for Access Points and clients
Mediatek sees WiFi 7 shipments growing quickly from 1% of the market this year to 15% in 2024 and 25% in 2025. The company has deliberately been faster to market with this generation of devices.
“With WiFi 7 there was a strong direction from our executive team to be out on the market at the forefront of the industry. We released our first product last year and in OEM designs already,” said Stephane Renaud, Director of Product Technology Marketing for Broadband in Europe for Mediatek.
“We are expecting a very fast adoption from discussions with OEMs and operators, and 75% of operators have launched a WiFi7 programme of sorts.” A certification programme for WiFi7 is due at the end of 2023.
Broadcom has previously moved to launch chips early for WiFi to secure design slots.
“I would say their second generation is their first,” said Renaud. “We are very active at the WiFi Alliance with the plugfests and we have seen that second generation chip showing up in the plugfest. In our case we are looking at a different product mix that is more mainstream and that will be with early adopters in the next quarter,” he said.
www.mediatek.com; www.broadcom.com
