26 | Industry Voices—Blaber: 5G calls for new thinking about smartphone design | ------- | |
FierceWireless: Wireless | 2019-10-02 00:00 | ????0? | |
The Wireless industry is an ever-changing world where big ideas come along daily. Our subscribers rely on FierceWireless as their must-read source for the latest news, analysis and data on this increasingly competitive marketplace. Sign up today to get wireless news and updates delivered to your inbox and read on the go. A smartphone is no different, and it`s a major reason why Qualcomm recently decided to acquire the remaining interest in RF360 Holdings. Its joint venture with TDK was established on the basis that the complexities of 5G would need a very different approach to smartphone design. The introduction of TDD as well as FDD frequencies, huge variation in wavebands from sub-6 GHz to millimeter wave, wider channel bandwidths and the need from day one to scale across more than 20 operators and 20 manufacturers entailed a very different, system-level approach.This is in stark contrast to how smartphone design worked in the early days of 4G. A manufacturer would pick the various elements needed, from the modem to the antenna, from a range of suppliers. This provided the advantage of choice and flexibility, but as complexity increased, those benefits began to be outweighed by the challenges.We`re still in the early days of 5G, and the competitive landscape has not yet settled. The entrance of new suppliers of 5G chipsets at a wider range of prices is inevitable as manufacturers seek to spur competition and bring down cost. Early 2020 will see far wider experimentation. However, the introduction of products featuring a broader range of silicon is also likely to see the gulf widen in terms of the performance, efficiency and feature set of 5G smartphones.Geoff Blaber is vice president of research for the Americas at CCS Insight. Based in California, Blaber heads CCS Insight’s Americas business and supports the range of clients located in this territory. Blaber`s research focus spans a broad spectrum of mobility and technology, including the lead role in semiconductors. He is a well-known member of the analyst community and provides regular commentary to leading news organizations such as Reuters, the Financial Times and The Economist. You can follow him on Twitter @geoffblaber. -- ???????? | |||
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