Qualcomm announces first 7nm chip

Qualcomm has announced its first 7nm chip. It concerns the X24 modem, which offers 4G speeds of up to 2Gbit/s. This is done by combining regular frequency bands with the 5GHz band that is used for WiFi-ac.

The X24 supports 4g with lte cat 20 and according to Qualcomm is the first modem with that support. Cat 20 allows phones on five different frequency bands to connect to cell towers with 4×4 MiMo. This is possible on ordinary frequency bands such as 800MHz and 1800MHz, but also in the 5GHz band. No license is required for this and many people use it for WiFi. The technology supports ‘listen-before-talk’ to prevent 4G from interfering with the Wi-Fi signal. Phones can only use this frequency band if providers offer it. That is currently not the case in the Benelux.

Qualcomm says the X24 is already with manufacturers for testing, but mass production has not yet begun. The American chip designer does not say when the X24 should be released. That will probably happen by the end of this year or next year. The first socs with 5g support should also come next year; this X24 does not support 5g. The chip designer does not say where it will have the X24 made. In recent years, Qualcomm has always teamed up with Samsung, but TSMC is also working on its 7nm production.