60-GHz Chipset Is Poised To Overtake WiFi

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This chipset, which is expected to replace HDMI cables, provides speeds to 7 Gb/s.

UNDER DEVELOPMENT FOR FIVE years, a new gigabit wireless chipset has a chance of replacing HDMI cables. With speeds to 7 Gb/s, it is up to 10 times faster than current Wi-Fi chips. This work was led by National ICT Australia (NICTA) and the Victoria Research Laboratory. Recently, Australia's Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science, and Research Senator Kim Carr of Victoria announced funding for Nitero, a company formed by researchers from NICTA. The $1.43-million (Australian) grant is part of an effort intended to bring this high-speed, gigabit wireless communications technology, which has been dubbed "GiFi," to market.

By offering reduced size and power consumption, the Nitero chipset can be used to send and receive large amounts of data in a variety of applications (see figure). For example, it is intended for use in a wide range of devices including personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. The technology's fast data-synchronization rates enable the rapid transfer of video, bringing the "wireless office" closer to reality.

The grant comes from Commercialisation Australia, a government initiative to accelerate the business building process for Australian companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, and inventors. In its announcement of more than AU $13 million, which included the Nitero investment, Commercialisation Australia also provided funding for an influenza test kit for pandemics, a bioherbicide to counter invasive weeds, and a livestock pest-control system. In total, Commercialisation Australia has invested AU $45 million in 115 projects.