Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/31246-broadcom-delivers-worlds-first-xdsl-cpe-soc-with-integrated-80211ax-wi-fi-6-technology

Broadcom Delivers World’s First xDSL CPE SoC with Integrated 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Technology

October 23, 2018

Broadcom Inc. announced the availability of the industry’s first broadband SoC with integrated Wi-Fi 6 technology.  The BCM63178 combines ADSL, 35b VDSL and Wi-Fi 6 into a single integrated solution, enabling telecom service providers to effectively deploy copper services coupled with the benefits of 802.11ax in a single, cost-effective platform.  With high-performance CPU, Gigabit Ethernet routing, next-generation broadband access and WiFi 6, BCM63178 provides a path for service providers to spread broadband content throughout the home.

Combined with a multi-core CPU complex for high performance packet processing and offload, Gigabit Ethernet switching and routing, and VoIP, the BCM63178 is architected to efficiently scale from single-band applications to the high speed demands of dual-band Wi-Fi home networking with Broadcom’s BCM43684 Wi-Fi 6 WLAN chipset.  Complementing the BCM63178 silicon is an advanced, secure, container-based software architecture consistent with Broadcom’s DSL and PON CPE silicon offerings.

“Combining both xDSL and Wi-Fi 6 technology into a single device enables service providers to deploy a future-proof CPE product as the Wi-Fi 6 market matures,” said Greg Fischer, senior vice president and general manager, Broadband Carrier Access, Broadcom. “Further, the advanced software offered with the BCM63178 along with its processing capability enables secure, modern containerized software architectures for increased longevity and product reliability as new applications are downloaded to Broadcom-based gateways.”

Broadcom’s 802.11ax implementation provides users with an improved wireless experience based on state-of-the-art Wi-Fi 6 technology recently introduced by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Broadcom’s new platforms are designed to facilitate whole home coverage, WFA EasyMesh™ capable gateways and repeaters, reliable video over Wi-Fi performance, as well as faster download and upload speeds, higher capacity, better coverage and longer battery life afforded by Wi-Fi 6.

The Broadcom BCM63178 family of devices is sampling now.