Qualcomm unveils new chipsets that will triple Wi-Fi speeds

Qualcomm is working on new chipsets that would improve antenna technology and allow users to maintain quick connectivity, even on very busy Wi-Fi networks.

Have you ever tried to access a public Wi-Fi network in an airport or some other crowded place, only to be greeted by incredibly slow download speeds or by a complete dearth of connectivity? According to an article published recently by PC World, Qualcomm is working on new chipsets that would improve antenna technology and allow users to maintain quick connectivity, even on very busy Wi-Fi networks.

In the estimation of Todd Antes, a Vice President at the Qualcomm Atheros division (the department working on the improved Wi-Fi chipsets), it is not uncommon for users to face sluggish download speeds or to be kicked off a network entirely when trying to access Wi-Fi in a crowded place. This is because Wi-Fi networks in airports or other similarly crowded environments are facing an incredible amount of demand. Since a hundred people or more are all sitting around on their phones and trying to access a Wi-Fi network through one or two access points, network access turns into a bottleneck of sorts where users only get a few kilobits of download speed.

To correct this problem, Qualcomm Atheros is developing a technology called MU-MIMO (or multi user multiple-input multiple-output), which will allow wireless routers to communicate more efficiently than they have in the past. Currently, most wireless routers can only communicate with one user or device at a time – no big deal when only a few people are trying to access a network, but a notable problem when 100 or more users are vying for Wi-Fi access. MU-MIMO would allow wireless access points to communicate with three users or devices at once, allowing for quicker download speeds and superior Wi-Fi connectivity across the board. 

Of course, MU-MIMO will need to be implemented before users can expect more efficient airport Wi-Fi speeds. Updates will have to be made to both routers or wireless access points and user devices, meaning that it will be another year or so until the impact of MU-MIMO is felt in the public sphere. 

Source : State Column