A quick primer on the private and startup companies working on 60GHz applications like WiGig connectivity and gigabit wireless backhaul.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

July 17, 2014

3 Min Read
60GHz: Private Companies & Startups

There's a growing ecosystem of startups and private companies that are focused fully or in part on wireless applications using 60GHz radios.

As I wrote this month, interest in this unlicensed high-bandwidth technology is growing, and companies are working on everything from short-range video streaming to small cell backhaul with the V-Band technology. (See 60GHz: A Frequency to Watch.)

In general, private companies working with 60GHz radios tend to focus on either WiGig (802.11ad) or wireless HD short-range connectivity or wireless backhaul offerings. As you'll see, however, the silicon vendors in this space have sometimes developed both WiGig and backhaul-focused products using the technology.

Chip designers
This is currently a very fluid market. One of the leading 60GHz WiGig startups, Wilocity , has just been bought by Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM). More consolidation in this area seems likely. (See Qualcomm Advances WiGig With Wilocity Buy.)

Company

Location

Tech focus

Funding

Amimon Ltd.

Tel Aviv

Wireless HD chipsets and modules

$50M+

Blu Wireless

Bristol, UK

WiGig & mmWave backhaul

$3.5M

Nitero

Austin, Texas

WiGig

$13.7M

Peraso Technologies Inc.

Toronto

WiGig, small cell backhaul

$26M

Quantenna Communications Inc.

Fremont, Calif.

WiGig, WiFi

$90M+

System vendors
Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) sparked interest in this sector recently by buying the secretive millimeter wave startup Alpental Technologies Inc. (See Google Buys Alpental for Potential 5G Future.)

Many of the companies working in 60GHz backhaul and wireless links also offer microwave or E-Band products. As you'lll see, a couple of the companies -- LightPointe and SkyFiber -- also have roots right back in the Free Space Optics boom at the start of the 21st century. (See LightPointe Attracts $17M.)

Company

Location

Tech focus

Funding

Athena Wireless Communications Inc.

Surprise, Ariz.

60GHz small cell backhaul, links

$250,000 grant

BridgeWave Communications Inc.

Santa Clara, Calif.

4G backhaul

$40M+

LightPointe Communications

San Diego

60GHz wireless "bridges"

$70M+

Mimosa Networks, Inc.

Campbell, Calif.

60GHz WiFi-based gigabit links

$38M

Siklu Communications Ltd.

Petach Tikva, Israel

Small cell backhaul

$30M+

SkyFiber Wireless

Bryan, Texas

60GHz Links, FSO

$32M

Sub10 Systems Ltd.

Devon, UK

Small cell backhaul

$3.8M

What about end-user devices?
You can buy wireless HD TV streaming devices now. WiGig chipsets are coming out now, and consumer-orientated devices are expected to arrive in force in 2015 as the WiFi Alliance certifies 60GHz devices.

If you you feel like I've missed any private companies in this roundup, feel free to let me know via the message board.

Next time, we'll look at what public companies are doing with 60GHz and the future of the technology.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like