The Overview
CEVA's new PentaG2 is a second-generation 5G platform architecture aimed at speeding design and marketing of new usage models for mobile broadband and IoT. It's claimed as a comprehensive hardware/software IP platform that combines advanced DSPs with special-purpose accelerators for optimal signal-chain processing. The result is a 4X improvement in power efficiency compared with its predecessor.
Who Needs it and Why?
According to Ericsson's recent Mobility Report forecasts, cellular IoT will comprise some 5.5 billion of the overall 8.9 billion cellular connections in 2027, up from 1.9 billion cellular IoT connections in 2021. Moreover, the number of fixed wireless access connections is expected to rise from 90 million in 2021 to near 230 million in 2027. The PentaG2 platform is said to reduce the barriers of entry for semiconductor makers and OEMs looking to claim a share of these market opportunities in mobile broadband and IoT, or to be self-sufficient with respect to their 5G handsets' SoCs, by providing a platform with all the key building blocks required for full LTE/5G modem design.
While 5G today is predominantly associated with smartphones, it offers an immense opportunity to expand the use of cellular technology to new markets that are not fully utilizing the potential of 5G, including industrial, robotics, wearables, healthcare, automotive, fixed wireless access, and smart grid.
Under the Hood
To address a broader scope of potential users, PentaG2 platforms will initially be offered in two configurations:
- PentaG2-Max targets enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) use cases in handsets and CPE/FWA terminals and mmWave, NR-Sidelink and cellular V2X (C-V2X), as well as URLLC-enabled AR/VR use cases. PentaG2-Max is claimed as the world’s only complete IP offering able to efficiently process the immense workloads required for 3GPP releases 16 and 17, looking forward to 5G advanced, for both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G broadband, with a 4X performance/area improvement in data-path processing.
- PentaG2-Lite supports a range of reduced-capacity use cases, including LTE Cat1 and future 3GPP Rel-17/18 NR RedCap (Reduced Capacity, aka NR-Lite). PentaG2-Lite is an extremely efficient and lean baseband implementation with complete processing chain acceleration and utilizing a small footprint DSP controller, to meet the most stringent power budgets.
Crucially, both configurations offer the flexibility to allow customers combine their own proprietary algorithms and IP, such as channel estimation or advanced equalization, with the PentaG2 platform via standard interfaces.
PentaG2 includes a complete set of programmable accelerators and coprocessors, constituting end-to-end in-line signal processing chains. Accelerators introduced for the first time as part of the PentaG2 platform include:
- Bit-demodulation unit, supporting entire Rx bit and LLR processing
- Bit-modulation unit for entire Tx bit processing
- Equalizer and MAC engine co-processor unit
- 5G LDPC encoder/decoder
- 5G polar encoder/decoder
PentaG2 is available for licensing to lead customers today and for general licensing in the second half of this year. For further information, visit the product webpage.