Expanded Wireless

Although silicon germanium (SiGe) hybrid chips have been around for some time, IBM scientists have continued to improve on the technology, and recently announced the fifth generation. Called 9HP, the new process will allow chip designers to create new devices that take advantage of expanded frequencies including millimeter wave wireless communications.

In the data communications industry, spectrum is the key to high volume and faster speeds and, as mobile device use continues to increase at an explosive pace, spectrum shortages and conflicts result in reduced quality across the board. At frequencies of 30GHz to 300GHz, millimeter waves (sometimes known as extremely high frequency or EHF) occupy the spectrum between microwaves and infrared waves and can relieve the bottleneck that’s being created by high wireless usage. In addition to provide lots of room for expansion, millimeter waves can support data rates of 10Gbits or more. The availability of circuitry that works at these wavelengths will open up a whole new world of wireless that has already been dubbed WiGig (Wireless Gigabit).