Broadcom (BRCM) says it will license two ARM chip architectures, meaning that the California chipmaker will be able to design its own microprocessor cores based on ARM code, rather than just using ARM’s pre-designed cores. Broadcom has a long history of designing chipsets based on the competing MIPS architecture, but the company says that with its Trellis software sitting atop chip architectures, it can integrate different operating systems and applications regardless of the CPU.
The ARMv7 architecture is the basis for all current 32-bit ARM Cortex processors, while the ARMv8 architecture includes 64-bit execution. Broadcom says the agreement will enable it to address optimized 32- and 64-bit system on a chip (SoC) implementations to deliver high-performance, low-power solutions across a broad range of market applications including broadband access and set-top boxes. The company says that the ability to design cores for chips that power set-top boxes will be especially important in the years ahead, since the cores in the chipsets need to perform different functions simultaneously. “It’s not just a core we’re plucking down, it’s something we can adapt and make work seamlessly with the other things that a set top box has to accomplish,” said Broadcom’s Joseph Del Rio.
Broadcom did not specifically mention mobile processors in announcing the deal, but the company is active in this area. The market for mobile processors is growing at an estimated 22% CAGR, and analysts expect other chipmakers to take aim at the space. ARM, which designs processor cores but does not make chips, dominates the market by licensing its core designs to Qualcomm and Apple, among others.
Broadcom is the leading maker of wireless connectivity chipsets, and has been working to integrate these with other mobile chipsets. The company recently announced an integrated solution that combines an HSPA+ processor, a graphics processor, a modem, an RF component, a power management chip, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS capability, and an NFC chip. With the ARM licensing deal, Broadcom should be able to create mobile microprocessors that support LTE and LTE-Advanced, and will probably try to integrate these with its other chipsets.
In a statement, ARM’s president Simon Segars said his company has had a close partnership with Broadcom for many years and is delighted to extend this relationship still further. He also noted that the ARMv8 architecture represents a significant milestone for ARM and opens up new opportunities and markets for its silicon partners.
