On Semiconductor introduces new series QCS-AX2 for Wi-Fi 6E applications

ON Semiconductor, the company driving energy efficient innovation, announced the availability of samples for the new QCS-AX2 chipset family, which supports the 6 GHz band based on the enhanced Wi-Fi 6E standard. The new product family is designed with a high-performance, flexible architecture to maximize the use of the 6 GHz band, optimized for high-throughput Wi-Fi applications such as access points, gateways, and mesh networking solutions in dense environments and remote underserved areas.

The QCS-AX2 series is based on an integrated baseband and radio frequency (RF) architecture that supports key Wi-Fi 6E features such as orthogonal Frequency division multiple Access (OFDMA), advanced multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), and 160 MHz channel support for faster speeds. As well as SmartScan channel selection support to maximize frequency band usage. The new product lineup will include:

● QCS-AX2-A12: Tri-band (6 GHz / 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz), with (Adaptive MIMO) technology, supporting flexible 8x8 or 4x4 architectures

● QCS-AX2-T12: three-frequency parallel 4x4 operation, providing high performance, cost-effective router solution

● QCS-AX2-T8: Three-frequency parallel 8-space stream architecture for mesh network nodes and mainstream access points

The Federal Communications Commission is expected to open up the 6 GHz band in the United States, which will designate up to 1,200 MHz of newly available spectrum for Wi-Fi and other license-free applications. The 6 GHz band offers nearly five times more spectrum than the current 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands combined, accelerating the development of next-generation Wi-Fi 6 applications. While the 6 GHz client ecosystem will take time to build, Wi-Fi infrastructure devices such as gateways, routers, and access points will need to continue to support existing dual-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) clients. Infrastructure applications such as 6 GHz backhaul between gateways and mesh network nodes will lead the deployment.

On Semiconductor's Wi-Fi 6E solution is designed to use adaptive MIMO technology to accommodate the transition to the 6 GHz band while satisfying mainstream 6 GHz applications. Depending on the client in the user's home network, Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure devices with AdaptivMIMO enable the network to operate in the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band to maximize performance, coverage, and utilization. The QCS-AX2 series provides excellent Wi-Fi performance and connectivity for multiple devices required by applications in crowded environments.

Irvind Ghai, vice President of Marketing for Quantenna Connectivity Solutions at On Semiconductor, said: "We are excited about the huge business opportunity that Wi-Fi 6E brings to the industry. We are at the forefront of building the Wi-Fi 6E platform that enables faster Wi-Fi speeds, efficiency and performance in the home, enterprise, automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) segments. "On Semiconductor is committed to innovation in Wi-Fi technology and will continue to leverage its outstanding connectivity to deliver end-to-end solutions that contribute to the critical Wi-Fi 6E ecosystem."

Simon Duxbury, vice president and general manager of Quantenna Connectivity Solutions at ON Semiconductor, said: "We are using AdaptivMIMO's next-generation QCS-AX2 to enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to achieve optimal performance across three frequency bands and accelerate time to market. With the proliferation of Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure, the 6 GHz ecosystem will be seeded. Client devices will also benefit from higher efficiency, lower latency and jitter, and less interference, resulting in a better user experience across different applications and environments."