WiFi 6 solutions with mesh networking platforms

The new platforms were specifically designed to enable a variety of high performance smart repeater configurations that allow faster download and upload speeds, high capacity, better coverage, lower latency and enhanced battery life afforded by Broadcom’s WiFi 6 implementation. Both devices were engineered to be highly integrated and power efficient to allow dualband or triband repeaters to fit into compact wall-plug form factors.

The first platform, BCM6752, combines a multi-core CPU complex, two ports of Gigabit Ethernet and a two stream WiFi 6 radio into a compact package. The BCM6752 has an interface to externally connect the BCM43684 four stream WiFi 6 solution to build a high performance concurrent dualband smart repeater.

The second platform, the BCM6755, is the industry’s most integrated repeater solution. It combines a multi-core CPU complex, one port of Gigabit Ethernet and two 2x2 WiFi 6 radios enabling ultra-compact wall-plug form factors for ‘sprinkler head’ deployment topologies. In addition, the BCM6755 can be combined with the BCM43684 radio for very high performance triband repeaters. The new platforms allow the productisation of WiFi 6 smart repeater solutions which span the spectrum of cost, form factor and performance.

The BCM6752 and BCM6755 platforms come with Broadcom’s SmartMesh multi access point management technology which is also offered on Broadcom’s WiFi 6 enabled Cable, DSL and PON broadband gateway platforms. SmartMesh technology offers seamless onboarding and configuration of repeaters, in addition to intelligent channel management and dynamic client steering.

Broadband gateway platforms with SmartMesh can be combined with smart repeaters to form an intelligent WiFi 6 mesh network, enabling high speed broadband coverage to be deployed seamlessly throughout a home. The software suite also offers an application programming interface to enable third party cloud based managed WiFi solutions. SmartMesh provides operators the assurance of multi-vendor interoperability driven by full compliance to the WiFi Alliance EasyMesh industry standard.

Greg Fischer, senior vice president and general manager, Broadband Carrier Access at Broadcom, stated: “Broadband service providers around the world are offering consumers premium WiFi services based mesh networking technology. With today’s announcement, Broadcom is first to offer broadband service operators a complete portfolio of WiFi 6 solutions which spans multiple high performance wireless gateway platforms to WiFi 6 range extenders that are optimised for cost and form factor.

“Broadcom’s eco-system of WiFi 6 home networking products will allow operators to raise the bar on premium WiFi services that provide whole home coverage and faster speeds to the ever increasing number of wireless devices in their subscriber’s homes.”

Fahri Diner, co-founder and CEO of Plume, added: “Enabling modern services over a high performance and reliable WiFi network throughout the home is a key focus area for Plume. Leveraging Broadcom’s newest extender platforms, Plume will offer multiple configurations of Pods based on Broadcom’s WiFi 6 technology that compliments the 802.11ax broadband gateways we see operators adopting quickly.

“Combined with the benefits of sophisticated cloud management that is required in the WiFi 6 era, this comprehensive solution with Broadcom allows our customers to upgrade subscriber homes to the latest generation of WiFi technology, resulting in superior experiences over a higher capacity and lower latency WiFi infrastructure.”

Broadcom is working with Early Access Partners on extenders designs based on BCM675X.