MediaTek’s new M80 modem packs in Sub-6 and mmWave 5G

By Andy Boxall February 1, 2021

MediaTek has announced the M80 5G modem, its first to combine both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G technologies, which is important if it’s to make a greater impact on the U.S. in the future. Previously, MediaTek’s M70 modem, which is found in its Dimensity mobile processors, only supported Sub-6 networks, and was used inside the T-Mobile version of the LG Velvet.

Recommended Videos

The M80 modem is capable of connecting to standalone (SA) and non-stand-alone (NSA) 5G signals at a maximum of 7.67Gbps download and 3.76Gbps upload. The modem is suitable for 5G-capable networks all over the world, supports dual-5G SIMs and technology including dual Voice over New Radio (VoNR), and will connect to 4G LTE Cat-19 networks too.

However, the inclusion of mmWave is a key piece of tech for attracting manufacturers selling devices in the U.S. Verizon already operates a limited mmWave network, and while T-Mobile and AT&T have concentrated on Sub-6 for now, they are exploring mmWave in some areas. On the phone side devices like the iPhone 12 range, which support both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G, are likely to become more common as prices of including both Sub-6 and mmWave, and the associated network contracts, fall.

MediaTek isn’t the only chipmaker with an integrated Sub-6 and mmWave modem. Qualcomm, Huawei, and Samsung all make modems that support both technologies, and the U.S. isn’t the only one looking at mmWave either. China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia are all either experimenting with or launching in a limited fashion, mmWave 5G networks. However, like Europe and the U.K., Sub-6 is used for most 5G network at the moment.

The M80 modem’s announcement follows the launch of MediaTek’s latest 5G processor, the Dimensity 1200, which is aimed at mid-to-high-end smartphones. MediaTek is known for providing high-spec chips at a reasonable price, and more manufacturers are jumping on board with the company to help lower the cost of 5G-capable phones. Pairing the M80 with the Dimensity 1200 will ensure it stays competitive, especially in fast-growing 5G markets.

MediaTek says the M80 modem will be available to its partners later this year, so don’t expect to see it inside any hardware you may be able to buy for a while.

Topics

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

MediaTek gives mmWave 5G a boost with Dimensity 1050 chip

A render of the MediaTek Dimensity 1050 processor.

A phone you use on a mmWave 5G network in the future may be powered by a MediaTek chip. After confirming it was preparing to launch its first mmWave-capable system-on-a-chip earlier this year, the Dimensity 1050 is now here and it’s coming to smartphones before the end of September. It joins Qualcomm-powered phones on some, or all, of the carriers providing mmWave connections in the U.S.

MediaTek has already completed the necessary certification for the Dimensity 1050 to be used with U.S. carriers and also expects the certification required for the chip to be used with mmWave carriers in Japan to finalize in July. Although it has not provided information on device or carrier partners, it has said the first MediaTek-powered mmWave smartphones will arrive in the U.S. between July and September.

Mobile

What is low-band 5G? Sub-6 explained

5G radio tower.

There’s little doubt that 5G promises to change how we communicate, live, and work in a pretty big way. Unlike the cellular technologies of yesteryear, 5G offers capabilities and performance that were once the exclusive domain of wired networks. So, it’s no surprise that deploying these advanced networks has become more involved than anything that’s come before.

To deliver what 5G is truly capable of, wireless carriers have had to work across a much broader range of radio frequency spectrum, from the lower frequencies where the original GSM cellular networks lived, up to those used by radar systems and satellites.

Mobile

What is mmWave? High-band 5G explained

Large 5G cellular tower with multiple mmWave transceivers against a blue sky.

The rollout of 5G technology around the world has been considerably more complex than the wireless standards that came before. Since 5G demands unprecedented levels of performance, carriers have to navigate a tricky sea of radio frequencies to ensure they can deliver the best speeds and coverage possible.

Older GSM, 3G, and 4G/LTE technologies ran within a relatively narrow band of frequencies, leaving carriers with somewhat limited choices in deploying their networks. By comparison, 5G covers the entire spectrum, from low-band 600MHz to extremely high 47GHz frequencies.