NXP Integrates Support for its Wi-Fi 6 Solutions Across its i.MX Applications Processors Portfolio
NXP announced that the latest release of the Linux board support package (BSP) for i.MX applications processors directly supports NXP’s flagship 88W9098 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth® combo devices.
What’s New
NXP Semiconductors continues to integrate its Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo solutions across its edge processing portfolio, allowing developers to create the optimal pairing of processing with connectivity. The improved throughput, enhanced spectral and spatial efficiency, and power consumption improvements featured in the latest generation Wi-Fi 6 device provide developers with a robust, high-performance connectivity solution.
Why it Matters
By integrating Wi-Fi 6 support into the NXP ‘One Driver’ in the i.MX Linux BSP, NXP provides developers with flexible and scalable platforms to help accelerate compliance, significantly shorten time-to-market and streamline Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo deployments. The high-performance 88W9098 Dual Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.1 SoC is ideally suited for industrial and automotive applications. The 88W9098 Concurrent Dual Wi-Fi (CDW) architecture includes:
- 2x2+ 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 5GHz + 2.4 GHz
- 2 fully independent RF MAC and PHY data paths for simultaneous operation in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands
- Supports mobile AP with 32 clients per radio interface (64 in total)
- Peak throughput – 1600Mbps
- RF crossbar allows Wi-Fi 6 in either 5GHz or 2.4GHz bands
- 1024 QAM, DL/UL OFDMA, DL MU-MIMO
- Extended range mode - extended range packet and Dual Carrier Modulation (DCM)
- Target Wake Time (TWT)
- Dual-mode Bluetooth/BLE 5.1
- Temp: Industrial range (-40 C to + 85 C)
Linux/Android Board Support Package (BSP)
The latest i.MX Linux BSP release supports the current long-term stable kernel from the Linux community (5.10), and NXP’s ‘One Driver’ module supports connectivity chipsets enabled in the BSP for portability and flexibility between connectivity solutions. NXP has integrated its Wi-Fi/Bluetooth drivers and communications stacks with i.MX applications processor SoCs to simplify and accelerate application development. Additionally, the NXP Wi-Fi driver uses the standardized interfaces within the kernel for forward and backward compatibility.
By using the Linux/Android BSPs, developers can easily combine wireless connectivity with i.MX applications processors capabilities. The integrated Wi-Fi/Bluetooth drivers have been verified and tested using community developed, open-source networking tools such as iPerf, wpa_supplicant, hostapd, blue-z, and pulseAudio.
Module Partners – The Path to Production
NXP has partnered with leading module vendors around the world, including AzureWave, Murata, Laird Connectivity, Taiyo Yuden, and u-blox to deliver fully certified, platform-integrated modules for developer designs. With additional partners being added this year, NXP’s broad range of module suppliers adds more flexibility for developers to choose the best module for their application and reduce the design complexity, development costs, and the time to certification.
Availability
NXP’s 88W9098 is the first in a series of Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.1 SoCs to be supported by the company’s i.MX Linux BSP, which is now available through NXP’s module partners and NXP’s global mass market and distribution network, including Arrow, Avnet, Future, EBV, Mouser, Digikey, E14, and WT Micro. Learn more at nxp.com/wifibluetooth.
About NXP’s Connectivity Portfolio
With one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of wireless technologies, NXP is committed to accelerating its vision of a connected world that anticipates and automates. When combined with the processing power of the EdgeVerse platform, NXP is uniquely positioned to enable smart connected devices for IoT, industrial, auto and communication infrastructure applications—making lives easier, safer, and more convenient. Whether it’s connecting people to the Internet, joining IoT devices to the cloud, or communicating with cars in new and unexpected ways, NXP’s portfolio allows developers to advance their most innovative ideas with confidence. Together with our partners, we are enabling solutions that accelerate a securely connected world. Learn more at nxp.com/connectivity.