IBM and MediaTck develop ultra-fast chip

IBM Research and MediaTek Inc have launched an R&D joint venture to develop an ultra-fast wireless transmission protocol, which uses the 60GHz spectrum.

The joint venture will develop chips which are able to transfer files at around 2.5 gigabits per second - 100 times faster than Wi-Fi which has a transfer rate of between 11 and 54 megabits a second.

The chips would be able to transfer a 10 gigabyte file wirelessly in five seconds. At the moment this would take several minutes on a Wi-Fi network.

The 60GHz spectrum is part of the millimetre wave spectrum, which runs from 30GHz to 300GHz.

IBM will bring its expertise in wave (mmWave) radio chips and package technology to the venture, while MediaTek will work on the digital signal processing.

The two companies hope to start commercialising products from the joint venture in three years time.