July 2, 2025 By Suzanna Chang, Sr. Director, IoT End Market at GlobalFoundries Today, seamless connectivity is a necessity. We are moving to smarter homes and more connected devices, causing the demand for reliable and efficient Wi-Fi solutions to grow exponentially. In fact, according to Parks Associates’ Smart Home Dashboard, since last year, 18% of U.S. homes alone have six or more smart devices in them. At GlobalFoundries, we are supporting this exciting revolution by offering cutting-edge platforms perfectly suited for Wi-Fi applications. So, let’s dive into why GF’s FDX™ and FinFET are the ideal choice for your Wi-Fi needs. Where we started versus where we are going with Wi-Fi 7 and beyond Wi-Fi technology today is unrecognizable compared to how it used to be in the early days. From Wi-Fi 4 to the innovative advancements of Wi-Fi 6, each iteration has brought critical improvements in speed, efficiency, connectivity and more. And now, we are on the brink of another revolution with Wi-Fi 7, certified in 2024. The latest protocol delivers ultra-fast data rates of up to 46 Gbps, leveraging a 320 MHz channel bandwidth and advanced 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) to maximize spectral efficiency. This enables seamless connectivity for multiple devices on a single network — without compromising performance. At GF, we’ve been advancing Wi-Fi chip technology since Wi-Fi 5, starting with 28LPS in 2018. Since then, we’ve delivered Wi-Fi 6/6E on 22FDX® and Wi-Fi 7 on both 22FDX® and 12LP+ FinFET. Now, we’re enabling next-gen connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 products and preparing the roadmap to Wi-Fi 8—bringing faster, smarter and more energy-efficient wireless performance to tomorrow’s connected devices. Where GF’s process technologies stand out The 22FDX® and 12LP+ FinFET platforms, cornerstones of our Ultra Low Power offerings, offer LV SRAM as low as 0.4V Vdd, suite of LDMOS devices, enabling highly integrated, power-efficient wireless connectivity. These platforms are built for connected intelligence at the edge, combining high performance with ultra-low power consumption. GF technologies for Wi-Fi iPA performance 6Ghz band Wi-Fi iPA at 6Ghz 22FDX®+ 12LP+ FinFET Iddq (mA) 125 56 Gain (dB) 26.5 25 Psat (dBM) 29 26.8 Peak PAE (%) 40 32.5 GF technologies for Wi-Fi iLNA performance 6Ghz band Frequency 22FDX+ (5.6Ghz) 12LP+ FinFET (5.8Ghz) Noise Figure (dB) 2.1* 1.5** Gain (dB) 18 20 Power mW ( @Vdd) 2(@1V) 1.6 (@0.8V) * Limitation due on chip Lg size and Q, ** Not final Rg needs to be validated and limited due to Lg size and Q Here are the key features and benefits of our 22FDX® and 12LP+ FinFET platforms: Full SoC integration: Our platforms offer full System-on-Chip (SoC) integration, including digital, analog and high-performance RF for signal range. This integration maximizes system power and minimizes the bill of materials, making it a cost-effective solution for your Wi-Fi applications. High performance and low power: Our 22FDX® platform offers FinFET-class performance in planar technology with ultra-low leakage standard cells and LDMOS amplifiers for power-efficient connectivity. With that, our 12 LP+ FinFET platform also offers lower digital power with 1 to 3-Fin standard cells for power, performance and area efficiency boost. This means you can achieve superior performance without compromising on battery life or system power consumption – a big win-win for everyone. Robust RF capabilities: Our 22FDX® transistors boast >350GHz Ft and >400GHz Fmax with a sample Noise Figure (NFmin) down to 0.2dB. GF Ultra Low Power platforms RF devices deliver exceptional performance in “noisy” environments like a smart home hub connected to many devices inside a home. Adaptive body biasing: Unique to our 22FDX® technology is the industry’s only FD-SOI Adaptive Body Bias ecosystem with Foundation IP & design methodology support. Designers can use ABB for process variability improvement, device performance or leakage reduction. Innovating for the future of Wi-Fi and beyond As we look to the future, the rapid transition from Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 6/6E and beyond is transforming the Smart Home and IoT landscape. Our RF technology is designed to enhance the smart home experience and assist innovation as Wi-Fi evolves. We help enable seamless connectivity for a wide range of devices, from Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) to desktop and laptop computers to smart home appliances (i.e., Smart TV, Washer/Dryer) / gadgets (i.e. Soundbar, Smart Speakers, Smart Home Hub). And with Wi-Fi 7 and the upcoming Wi-Fi 8 protocol, we are committed to delivering even more power-efficient and high-performance solutions that keep your devices connected and users satisfied. GlobalFoundries’ FDX™ and FinFET offerings are a strong fit for current and future Wi-Fi applications, providing the perfect blend of performance, power efficiency and reliability. We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of wireless connectivity. To learn more about our offerings for smart home connectivity, you can contact us anytime through gf.com. Suzanna Chang is a Senior Director of Home & IOT Connectivity Segment at GlobalFoundries. She focuses on the wireless connectivity and tracking segments enabling the next generation home and consumer wireless platforms and asset tracking/management.
