Samsung and Marvell partner over chip that somehow makes 5G better

Electronics giant Samsung has teamed up with embedded chip specialist to make a new system-on-chip for 5G radios.

Aside from the most generic hyperbole it’s hard to see precisely what is so special about this new chip. ‘The SoC is designed to help implement new technologies, which improve cellular radios by increasing their capacity and coverage, while decreasing power consumption and size,’ says the press release. In other words, this chip apparently does everything better.

“We are excited to extend our collaboration with Marvell to unveil a new SoC that will combine both companies’ strengths in innovation to advance 5G network solutions,” said Junehee Lee, Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung prioritizes the development of high-impact 5G solutions that offer a competitive edge to our operators. We look forward to introducing this latest solution to the market shortly.”

“Our collaboration with Samsung spans multiple generations of radio network products and demonstrates Samsung’s strong technology leadership. The joint effort includes 4G and 5G basebands and radios,” said Raj Singh, EVP of Marvell’s Processors Business Group. “We are again honored to work with Samsung for the next generation Massive MIMO radios which significantly raise the bar in terms of capacity, performance and power efficiency.”

The canned quotes don’t really add much, do they? If this SoC is really so great, you’d think they would make more of its specific advantages. Anyway, it’s due to appear in Samsung radios (and maybe others) sometime in the next quarter. If it really is as good as they say it is then Samsung could be set to steal even more RAN market share from the incumbents.