Qualcomm Networking Pro WiFi 6 Platforms Unveiled

By Shane McGlaun

Qualcomm has pulled the wraps off new WiFi networking platforms that slot into the Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms. The platforms are the second-gen WiFi 6 networking offerings from Qualcomm that are designed to deliver WiFi 6 connectivity.

The four platforms are the 1200, 800, 600, and 400 distinguished by format, scale of application, and computing needs. Qualcomm notes that its four tiers of service give OEMs flexibility. The high-end Qualcomm Networking Pro 1200 Platform supports 12 spatial streams of WiFi 6 connectivity with up to a 2.2GHz quad-core A53 processor.

The 800 platform supports up to eight spatial streams of WiFi 6 connectivity and up to a 1.4GHz quad-core A53 processor. Qualcomm’s 600 series supports up to 6 spatial streams of WiFi 6 connectivity with up to 1.0GHz quad-core A53 processor.

The bottom of the line 400 has up to 4 spatial streams with up to a 1.0GHz quad-core A53 processor. The platforms support 1024QAM modulation scheme with up to 38% higher raw throughput vs. wiFi 5. The platforms also support sull WPA3 security suite. Features include:

  • 8×8 radio support Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms expand overall available capacity by offering up to 12 full streams of Wi-Fi 6 connectivity (in the 1200 tier), including 8 streams of Wi-Fi 6 connectivity in the 5GHz band.
  • Qualcomm Technologies multi-use scheduling algorithms represent a distinctly differentiated form of traffic management for Wi-Fi. Through its advanced implementation of Wi-Fi 6 protocol standards, networks built on Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms can set a new benchmark for prioritizing network access for large numbers of connected clients:
    • MU-MIMO: Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms support MU-MIMO in the uplink and downlink across all bands, ensuring maximum capacity (up to 12 independent chains of Wi-Fi to simultaneously connect MU-MIMO capable clients).
    • OFDMA: Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms support OFDMA in the uplink and downlink across all bands with up to support for 37 users per 5GHz channel used.
  • Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms employ Qualcomm Technologies highly differentiated maximum user networking architecture, a unique design developed through research and development into extreme high-density deployments. This network architecture has been designed to successfully associate and maintain connectivity for up to 1500 clients simultaneously, making it the ideal architecture for a host of next-gen enterprise and carrier-class deployments.
  • The Qualcomm Networking Pro 1200 platform supports unique reconfiguration or wireless resources. Customers can design for either dual- or tri-radio operation (8×8 + 4×4 or 4×4 + 4×4 + 4×4) without the need to add a separate radio component.
  • Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms support the Wi-Fi 6 modulation scheme, 1024QAM, enabling up to 38% higher raw throughput vs. Wi-Fi 5.
  • Security: Qualcomm Technologies security implementation translates to support for the full WPA3 security suite (Personal, Enterprise, Opportunistic Wireless Encryption, Easy Connect).