Date: 17/02/2009

New WiMAX SoC from Fujitsu can enable the design of WiMAX dongle

Fujitsu has introduced a new mobile WiMAX baseband IC in small-footprint. The idea of pluggable USB adapters in mobile devices can be implemented using this device.

The new Fujitsu MB86K23 mobile WiMAX baseband IC supports a wide range of channel bandwidths including 3.5MHz, 5MHz, 7MHz, 10MHz, and 20MHz, along with 64QAM, 16QAM, and QPSK adaptive modulation schemes. It provides wireless access using 512/1024/2048 FFT OFDMA with integrated MAC processors, supports antenna diversity and beamforming, and includes all the features required for WiMAX Forum Wave 2 mobile device certification.

The MB86K23 is being manufactured using Fujitsu's 65nm low-leakage CMOS process and CoolAdjust power-gating technology, which reduces power consumption during operation by switching off power to circuit blocks that are not in use. Standby current for an entire WiMAX module can be reduced to 0.5mA, enabling significantly longer battery life in mobile devices. The new WiMAX baseband IC incorporates a USB interface, so designers can develop WiMAX USB adapters in ultra-small-form factors just like wifi or bluetooth dongles. SPI and SDIO interfaces also are included.

"We expect mobile WiMAX to become a key broadband wireless access technology in many portable devices like Mobile Internet Device (MID), Ultra Mobile PC (netbooks), Tablets, and even low-cost handsets for emerging markets. This new baseband IC delivers the low power and small footprint required for these exciting applications," said George Wu, Director of the Embedded Platform Solutions business group of Fujitsu Microelectronics America. "We continue to apply Fujitsu's leading-edge process technology and expertise to maximize performance. The new MB86K23 represents an excellent design choice to serve the fast-growing global market for WiMAX-equipped systems."


The MB86K23 is the successor to the Fujitsu mobile WiMAX baseband IC, the MB86K21, which targeted embedded WiMAX in mobile PCs and PC cards. In comparison to MB86K21, MB86K23 offers 36% power reduction, 60% space reduction.

When combined into a chipset with the Fujitsu MB86K52 RF IC and MB39C316 power-management IC, the MB86K23 enables developers to realize the industry's most compact form factors - just 20mm x 40mm for WiMAX USB adapters, and 30mm x 26.8mm for PCI Express half-mini cards that incorporate both WiMAX and Wi-Fi functionality.

ODM vendors are now planning to release these kinds of products using this WiMAX baseband IC. In addition to its low power requirements and small footprint, the Fujitsu MB86K23 can use software that was developed for the MB86K21, which has passed compatibility testing with many base stations.

Package: 10 mm x 10 mm FBGA