NICTA's new chip promises true wireless revolution

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 22 February 2008 12:18

Opinion and Analysis

NICTA say their research involved a “close collaboration with leaders in the global semiconductor industry”, with “the technology [being] developed using the IBM 130nm RF CMOS process”.

NICTA Gigabit Wireless Project Leader Professor Stan Skafidas said that: “Our collaborators IBM, Synopsys, Cadence, Anritsu, Agilent, Ansoft and SUSS MicroTec have been critical to our success and we are grateful to have had their valuable support”.

Skafias continued that: “Our innovative design methodology and access to leading design, test and measurement, and fabrication technology has allowed us to deliver this world-first success.”

NICTA researchers chose to develop this technology in the 57-64GHz unlicensed frequency band as the millimetre-wave range of the spectrum makes possible high component on-chip integration as well as allowing for the integration of very small high gain arrays.

“The availability of 7GHz of spectrum results in very high data rates, up to 5 gigabits per second to users within an indoor environment, usually within a range of 10 metres,” Professor Skafidas said.

The technology is expected to be commercially available within 3 years, although production samples are due by year’s end.

The chip is expected to cost AUD $10 per unit to manufacture, with approximately AUD $10 million needed to commercialise the process and set up a company, separate to NICTA, to promote and sell the technology to electronics manufacturers worldwide, with whom discussions have already begun.