Lte, 5G & 3Gpp I T Chipset Report:: Status Update June 2020

LTE, 5G & 3GPP IoT
CHIPSET REPORT:
Status Update June 2020
§§
Introduction
GSA continuously tracks the mobile industry and reports on adoption of 3GPP standardised technologies and the expansion of the mobile
ecosystem. This report complements the broader Status of the LTE Ecosystem reports based on the GSA GAMBoD devices database (which
covers modules as well as end-user devices of multiple types).
The focus of this report is discrete cellular modem chipsets, mobile processors and platforms used in devices with LTE (and 5G) connectivity,
and chipsets designed for devices using 3GPP-defined IoT technologies.
Note that we do not collate information on separate baseband processors, DSP chips or separate RF front-end transceivers, nor silicon
designed primarily for base stations used as network infrastructure. However, we do include chipsets designed for enterprise and residential
small cells and FWA applications, as these can be considered devices (femtocells are included in the GAMBoD database). Nor do we track
reference designs for complete platforms or discrete components where the vendor is not involved beyond creation of IP for licensing (e.g.
some designs from ARM and CEVA).
Technology background and between models; some, but not all, contain
definitions powerful graphics processors for image
and video applications. Mobile processors/
5G silicon
Chipset vendors use different terms to platforms chipsets may be designed for
describe their products. In this report we specific types of devices (such as automotive
status
define three specific types, as follows. components, smartphones, tablets or
Discrete cellular modem A modem chipset laptops). This category includes chipsets
in a single package designed primarily to designed for FWA devices (routers, gateways)
handle the transfer of data across the air as well as those for mobile devices.
There is an increasing choice of
interface. It will contain the transceiver, 3GPP IoT chipset A modem or mobile chipsets for 5G devices, with products
filters and power amplifier, and handle signal processor/platform designed primarily for commercially available from Hi-Silicon
modulation/demodulation, duplexing modes use in IoT devices and, in our database, (Huawei), Mediatek, Qualcomm,
and carrier aggregation. Modem chipsets supporting 3GPP IoT-oriented user Samsung and Unisoc (formerly
are often – but not always – built to support equipment categories (specifically, LTE Cat-1, Spreadtrum).
specific regional requirements, in different Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1/NB2). While capabilities
variants (SKUs, or stock-keeping units): vary, these chipsets do not generally support
we do not systematically track all variants as full a range of features as other chipsets
separately. Generally, a cellular modem in our database. Other chipsets may also
chipset will not deliver capabilities such as be used for IoT applications. Note that we
GNSS positioning or powerful processors for do not capture information about uplink/
applications or graphics. downlink speed separately (3GPP’s user
Mobile processor/platform A chipset that equipment (UE) device category definitions
encompasses a cellular modem along state the relevant maximum data rates).
with additional processors to deliver more Again, we exclude chipsets without RF and
functionality in a single package. Again, modem capabilities.
region-specific variants may be produced.
Our definition includes chipsets described
as ‘system on chip’ (SoC), and ‘single chip’
packages, as long as they include RF and
modem capabilities. The extent of the
additional capabilities varies significantly
©Copyright 2020 Global mobile Suppliers Association LTE, 5G & 3GPP IoT Chipsets: Status Update June 2020 | 2
Figure 1: Commercially available 5G modem chipsets, end 2018 to present
5G silicon status Discrete LTE cellular modems LTE mobile processors/platforms

There is an increasing choice of chipsets Excluding 5G-capable chipsets, GSA has Commercially launched LTE mobile
for 5G devices, with products commercially counted 18 commercially available discrete processors/platforms comprise the largest
available from Hi-Silicon (Huawei), Mediatek, cellular LTE modem chipsets from five category of chipsets in the GSA database;
Qualcomm, Samsung and Unisoc (formerly vendors: Hi-Silicon, Qualcomm, Samsung, we have counted 155 (other than those
Spreadtrum). Sanechips (formerly ZTE Microelectronics) specifically designed for IoT applications
and UNISOC (formerly Spreadtrum). This and excluding those capable of 5G) from
Unisoc is the latest entrant to the market, number has not changed since our previous 12 vendors: Altair Semi-conductor, GCT,
with a discrete cellular modem and issue of this report. Other modems are Hi-Silicon, Innofidei, Leadcore, MediaTek,
a processor/platform now available. produced but these are integrated with Qualcomm, Renesas Mobile, Samsung,
Meanwhile, the other four players have been other processors in mobile platforms. Sequans, UNISOC and Xiaomi.
expanding their product ranges.
In terms of downlink speeds, the fastest A number of other mobile processors/
By June 2020, GSA had identified 14 current LTE modem chipsets are: platforms from GCT, Hi-Silicon, MediaTek,
commercially available 5G mobile
Qualcomm and Unisoc are still at the pre-
processors/platforms and eight commercially • Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X20 and
commercial stage and not included in our
available discrete 5G modems from the five X24 modems (DL category 18 and 20
analysis.
semi-conductor companies. In addition, respectively; 1.2 Gbps and 2 Gbps
GSA had identified one pre-commercial 5G respectively with five- and seven-channel Our total of commercial LTE mobile
modem and three pre-commercial 5G mobile carrier aggregation respectively and processors/platforms includes some market-
processors/platforms. The maximum peak 256QAM on the downlink). specific variants (such as chipsets designed
theoretical speed claimed to be offered by to meet automotive industry standards),
• Hi-Silicon’s Balong 765 (DL category
any of the commercial discrete 5G modems but regional/band-specific variants are not
19; 1.6 Gbps, with four-channel carrier
currently reaches 7.5 Gbps DL, and 3.67 systematically captured in the database.
aggregation, 256QAM DL modulation and
Gbps UL.
8x8 MIMO on the DL).
A full list of commercially available, and pre-
Other modems are also powering fast mobile
commercial 5G mobile processors/platforms
platforms such as the Samsung Exynos
and discrete 5G modems will be available in
9 Series (9820) and Hi-Silicon’s Kirin 980
GSA’s new online chipset database, launching
which support downlink speeds of 2 Gbps
in June 2020.
and 1.4 Gbps respectively. Six other mobile
A clear market trend has been the recent platforms (from Hi-Silicon, Qualcomm and
rise in the number of mobile processors/ Samsung) all support DL speeds of 1 to 1.2
platforms, using the available 5G modems. Gbps.
Downlink UE category support Figure 2: Percentage of LTE mobile processors/platforms supporting specific UE
categories
Figure 2 shows the distribution of
processors/platforms in our database by
downlink UE category supported, where
known.
Support for advanced features is growing.

Including both 4G and 5G-capable chipsets,
we have identified 28 commercial mobile
processors/platforms that support 256QAM
in the downlink (up from 26 in our last
report). There are 31 more that support
64QAM in the downlink and 41 that support
64QAM or better in the uplink. Seven
processor/platforms support 256QAM in the
uplink.
Twenty-eight mobile processor/platform

chipsets have confirmed support for 4x4
MIMO in sub-6 GHz spectrum.
VoLTE, eMBMS and unlicensed Figure 3: Support for eMBMS and VoLTE
spectrum support
GSA is tracking the ecosystem for specific
LTE features. Figure 3 shows the number of
commercially available mobile processors/
platforms and discrete cellular modems,
supporting VoLTE and eMBMS (LTE
Broadcast/Multicast). Note that Cat-1
chipsets may also support VoLTE, and LTE-M
(Cat-M1) also allows for VoLTE support. We
have confirmed that nine Cat-1 or Cat-M1
chipsets (aimed primarily at IoT applications)
explicitly state support for VoLTE (others
may also support it, but this has not been
confirmed by vendors). This number is down
by one from the last report as one of the
chipsets has become obsolete.
The numbers of mobile processors/

platforms and discrete cellular modems
identified by GSA to support LTE in
unlicensed spectrum – LAA – are twelve and
four, respectively. Eight mobile processors/
platforms have been identified as supporting
CBRS.
3GPP IoT chipsets Figure 4: Numbers of chipsets supporting 3GPP IoT standards,
with percentage of total (29)
GSA has identified 29 chipsets (modem
chipsets and integrated processors/
platforms) designed specifically to address
M2M and IoT applications and which support
any of LTE Cat-1, Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1/NB2
user equipment.
Figure 4 shows the percentage of chipsets

supporting UE Cat-NB1/NB2, Cat-1 and
Cat-M1.
Chipset outlook
The number of 5G chipsets looks set
to increase steadily during 2020 with
new modems and mobile processors/
platforms due from a number of players.
Meanwhile, the variety of LTE chipsets
has also continued to increase (despite
the withdrawal of a major player from the
market).
A full list of commercially available, and pre-

commercial 5G mobile processors/platforms
and discrete 5G modems will be available
via GSA’s new online chipset database, part
of the GAMBoD paltform, for GSA Members
and Associates; launching in June 2020.
Contact [email protected] for more

information.
We intend to continue to update the chipset

database and this report; additions or
correction are welcomed. Please contact
[email protected].
ABOUT GSA
GSA is the voice of the global
mobile ecosystem and has
been representing mobile
suppliers since 1998.
GSA GAMBoD Database

Reports are based on data contained
in the GSA GAMBoD databases
which is a resource available to GSA
Members and Associates. Companies
and policy makers can subscribe as
a GSA Associate to the database to
gain insights into the source data
behind reports for their own research
purposes.
Discounted annual subscription are

available to regulators, government
agencies and mobile operators.
Please email [email protected] for

more information.
P.O. Box 689

Farnham
Surrey.
GU9 1LU
[email protected]
https://gsacom.com
©Global mobile Suppliers Association. 2020

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LTE, 5G & 3GPP IoT

5G silicon status Discrete LTE cellular modems LTE mobile processors/platforms

Support for advanced features is growing.

Twenty-eight mobile processor/platform

The numbers of mobile processors/

Figure 4 shows the percentage of chipsets

A full list of commercially available, and pre-

Contact [email protected] for more

We intend to continue to update the chipset

GSA GAMBoD Database

Discounted annual subscription are

Please email [email protected] for

P.O. Box 689

©Global mobile Suppliers Association. 2020

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