On February 26th, during the MWC 2024 exhibition, leading global Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider Quectel officially announced the launch of its new Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 combo module, the NCM8x5 series. This series of products is specifically designed for wireless connectivity in personal computers (PCs), offering advantages such as low latency and ultra-high speed to meet the demands of PC terminal applications requiring Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity technology.
The released module includes five models: NCM825, NCM825A, NCM835, NCM865, and NCM865A. All these models support mainstream high-performance processor platforms such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite platform, as well as Intel and AMD’s x86 platforms.
Low latency, high throughput, and outstanding core performance characterize the Quectel NCM8x5 series modules. These modules adopt the Qualcomm FastConnect™ 7800 solution, supporting 2×2 MIMO and dual-band concurrent (DBS) technology, enabling PC terminals to simultaneously connect to multiple frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz. Additionally, the NCM865 and NCM865A models utilize High Band Concurrent (HBS) multi-connection technology, reducing interference within the high-frequency spectrum to enhance wireless communication. This improvement helps utilize bandwidth more effectively, reduce signal latency, increase data throughput, and meet the demand for low-latency, high-throughput wireless connections in various industries.
Furthermore, the entire series supports MLO (Multi-Link Operation) functionality, enabling routers to utilize multiple wireless frequency bands and channels to connect to Wi-Fi 7 clients simultaneously, achieving faster data rates, lower latency, and higher network reliability for users.
Simultaneously, the NCM825, NCM825A, NCM835, NCM865, and NCM865A Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 combo modules support 4K-QAM and 320 MHz bandwidth, achieving a maximum data rate of 5.8 Gbps. This capability satisfies the requirements of terminals like laptops, ensuring ultra-low latency and real-time responsiveness.
In addition to excellent Wi-Fi connectivity, this series integrates features such as dual-mode Bluetooth, 2Mbps Low Energy Bluetooth (BLE), low-power (LE) audio, and long-range transmission for low-power Bluetooth.
Ensuring a comprehensive and compatible package for diverse applications, the series provides flexible size options. For instance, the Quectel NCM825 series has dimensions of 16.0mm x 20.0mm x 1.80mm, suitable for slim and compact laptops, while the NCM865 series, with dimensions of 22.0mm x 30.0mm x 2.25mm, better meets the needs of versatile laptops.
Moreover, all sub-models of the NCM8x5 series have obtained certifications from regulatory authorities worldwide, including China’s SRRC approval, EU CE, UK UKCA, North America FCC/IC, Australia RCM, South Korea KC, and Japan JATE/Telec certification.
Regarding the introduction of multiple high-performance Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 modules, Quectel’s COO Zhang Dong stated, “In response to the current demand in the PC market for high-performance, efficient, and secure wireless connections, Quectel has added several Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 modules to its module portfolio. Through the mentioned features such as Multi-Link Operation performance and dual-band concurrency, this series of modules can provide PC users with lower latency, faster data transmission, and excellent network reliability, significantly enhancing user experience. This is crucial for improving office efficiency and promoting the development of mobile office solutions.”
Furthermore, Quectel follows industry-leading practices and standards throughout the development process, from product architecture to firmware/software development. It undergoes third-party independent testing to reduce potential vulnerabilities and implements security practices such as generating SBOM and VEX files and firmware binary analysis throughout the entire software development lifecycle to ensure product security and reliability.
It’s also noteworthy that, to further assist customers in simplifying the design process, Quectel provides various high-performance antenna options, offering high flexibility and compatibility to meet the requirements of different projects. Customers can combine Quectel’s modules with corresponding antennas and pre-certification services to help reduce the cost and time-to-market of IoT devices.
During the MWC 2024 exhibition, Quectel’s NCM8x5 series modules were officially showcased. Attendees were invited to visit Quectel’s booth at 5A19 to learn more about the modules on display.