Updated September 19, 2017 to add information about the frequency band and modulation used by AirPHY.

MaxLinear Inc. announced a technology that enables data to be transferred wirelessly through typical building materials at an aggregate throughput of up to 2.5 Gbps. Branded AirPHY™, the wireless scheme aims to solve the challenge of installing multi-Gbps data services in the home without drilling holes and running cables through external walls.

AirPHY will enable service providers to deliver bidirectional Gbps data traffic to consumers, between a high speed modem outside the home to a residential gateway or Wi-Fi router within the home. The system uses unlicensed frequency bands, with signal levels below the FCC’s limits for radiated emissions. It is well-suited for use with fixed wireless access systems operating at 28 GHz, which cannot effectively penetrate exterior walls or low emissivity (low-e) glass windows.

Responding to a question from Microwave Journal, Jim Kappes, marketing director at MaxLinear, said the system operates between 1 and 2 GHz and uses an OFDM modulation scheme.

MaxLinear demonstrated AirPHY at IBC 2017, which was held 14-18 September in Amsterdam. The demo combined the AirPHY link with wireless power to deliver 1 Gbps data throughput and up to 25 W of power across a 25 mm low-e glass window, more than enough to power the AirPHY and fiber-optic modems on the other side.

 Will Torgerson, vice president and general manager of MaxLinear’s broadband group, said,  “There is a lot of discussion and excitement over broadband wireless access services in the industry, and we think that AirPHY has some advantages in throughput and spectrum reuse that make it very compelling. We can foresee many different use cases and applications for this technology, both in retail and service provider markets.”