Ceva and Sharp Collaborate on "Beyond 5G" IoT Terminals
Rhea-AI Summary
Ceva (NASDAQ: CEVA) and Sharp Semiconductor Innovation (SSIC) have announced their collaboration on the development of 'ASUKA', a groundbreaking System-on-Chip (SoC) for Beyond 5G (6G) IoT terminals. The ASUKA SoC, powered by Ceva's PentaG2 5G platform IP, aims to democratize cellular IoT by offering a customizable alternative to traditional 5G SoCs.
The innovative chip features a software-defined radio (SDR) architecture that ensures future-proof flexibility and supports emerging 6G standards. ASUKA includes various expansion interfaces like PCIe (Gen4), JESD204B, and USB 3.0, enabling function customization via PC connections. The SoC will be showcased at MWC25 in Barcelona.
The Ceva-PentaG2 IP platform is specifically designed for lower-throughput applications such as RedCap and optimized cellular IoT applications, featuring minimal power consumption for battery-powered devices. The platform includes advanced DSPs, accelerators, and complete 5G PHY software implementation.
Positive
- Strategic partnership with major electronics manufacturer Sharp
- Technology enables customization and future-proofing for 6G standards
- Expansion into growing IoT market segment
- Advanced features support multiple connectivity standards
Negative
- Product still in development phase
- Faces competition in crowded 5G/6G market
- Success dependent on IoT market adoption
Insights
Ceva's collaboration with Sharp on the ASUKA SoC represents a strategic positioning in the emerging Beyond 5G/6G IoT ecosystem. What stands out technically is the software-defined radio (SDR) architecture that forms the foundation of this chip. This approach directly addresses a important market challenge: the lack of customizable solutions in the cellular IoT space.
The technical advantages are substantial. Unlike traditional "black box" 5G SoCs that offer fixed functionality, ASUKA's customizable architecture enables future-proofing for emerging standards while allowing specialized application development. The expansion interfaces including PCIe Gen4, JESD204B, and USB 3.0 provide exceptional connectivity flexibility that IoT developers require.
What's particularly valuable is the development environment that allows simultaneous customization of both base stations and terminals - a comprehensive approach that simplifies system-wide implementation of new features. This positions Ceva's PentaG2 IP platform as an enabling technology for the next wave of cellular IoT innovation, particularly for RedCap and optimized IoT applications where power efficiency is critical.
The market alignment here is precise - as IoT connectivity needs diversify, the one-size-fits-all approach becomes increasingly inadequate. Ceva's technology enables the customization necessary for specialized use cases while maintaining standards compliance and future adaptability.
This partnership represents a strategic expansion of Ceva's licensing model within the growing cellular IoT semiconductor market. As an IP licensor, Ceva's business model thrives when its technology is adopted in high-potential growth areas, and the "Beyond 5G" IoT terminal market fits this profile perfectly.
The collaboration's significance extends beyond the immediate product announcement. By powering Sharp's ASUKA SoC, Ceva demonstrates the versatility of its PentaG2 platform and validates its technological approach through adoption by an established industry player. This creates a potential reference design effect that could accelerate additional licensing deals.
From a competitive standpoint, the customizable nature of this solution addresses a key market gap. Most cellular IoT solutions are either too rigid (fixed-function SoCs) or too complex (general-purpose SDR platforms). The ASUKA SoC strikes a balance that could drive adoption across multiple IoT verticals.
For Ceva shareholders, this represents potential growth in both licensing revenues and eventual royalty streams if the solution gains market traction. The company's focus on lower-throughput applications like RedCap and optimized cellular IoT positions it in market segments with massive unit potential rather than just premium applications.
Sharp's decision to showcase this technology at MWC25 indicates both companies see this as a significant advancement worth highlighting at the industry's premier event, suggesting confidence in its market potential.
Ceva-PentaG2 5G platform IP powers Sharp's ASUKA software-defined SoC for next-generation IoT user equipment
The ASUKA SoC was developed to fill a gap in the market for specialized 5G IoT communication chips. To democratize cellular IoT, the ASUKA SoC offers a customizable alternative to traditional "black box" 5G SoCs. Leveraging a powerful software-defined radio (SDR) architecture enabled by the Ceva-PentaG platform, this innovative chip ensures future-proof flexibility, allowing for customized communication functions and seamless support for emerging 6G standards.
"Our goal with the ASUKA SoC is to make 5G and beyond cellular IoT communications more accessible and widespread," said Toyofumi Horikawa, Sharp Semiconductor Innovation Corporation. "By partnering with Ceva and leveraging their renowned expertise in cellular processing, we have realized a cutting-edge SoC that is customizable to address any cellular IoT terminal application or standard, today and in the future."
"We are proud to collaborate with Sharp on their innovative 'Beyond 5G' IoT terminal project", said Michael Boukaya, Chief Operation Officer of Ceva. "Our Ceva-PentaG2 provides customers like Sharp with the industry's most advanced 5G platform IP, reducing risk and time-to-market for the development of cutting-edge cellular modems that support the most advanced applications with industry-leading efficiency and performance."
ASUKA is a software-defined SoC, for IoT user equipment (UE) to promote the spread of IoT UE in the Beyond 5G (6G) era. It features a scalable architecture that allows for functional modifications, enabling it to keep pace with the continuous evolution of communication standards. It includes various expansion interfaces such as PCIe (Gen4), JESD204B, and USB 3.0, allowing users to customize functions via PC connections. For developers, the ASUKA board provides a customizable development environment that enables coordination between base stations and terminals. Users can customize the UE alongside base stations, allowing for simultaneous customization of both. This facilitates the construction of IoT solutions, implementation of new features, and verification in an SDR development environment.
The Ceva-PentaG2 IP platform is a comprehensive solution for implementing 5G modems, specifically designed for lower-throughput applications such as RedCap, and other optimized cellular IoT applications. It is highly efficient, requiring minimal power consumption, making it suitable for IoT and other battery-powered devices. The platform integrates advanced DSPs and accelerators to enable optimal signal chain processing and includes a complete 5G PHY software implementation. With its scalable and flexible architecture, the Ceva-PentaG2 IP platform supports a wide range of applications, from high-performance mobile broadband to low-power IoT devices. For more information, visit https://www.ceva-ip.com/product/ceva-pentag2/
About Ceva, Inc.
At Ceva, we are passionate about bringing new levels of innovation to the smart edge. Our wireless communications, sensing and Edge AI technologies are at the heart of some of today's most advanced smart edge products. From Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, UWB and 5G platform IP for ubiquitous, robust communications, to scalable Edge AI NPU IPs, sensor fusion processors and embedded application software that make devices smarter, we have the broadest portfolio of IP to connect, sense and infer data more reliably and efficiently. We deliver differentiated solutions that combine outstanding performance at ultra-low power within a very small silicon footprint. Our goal is simple – to deliver the silicon and software IP to enable a smarter, safer, and more interconnected world. This philosophy is in practice today, with Ceva powering more than 19 billion of the world's most innovative smart edge products from AI-infused smartwatches, IoT devices and wearables to autonomous vehicles and 5G mobile networks.
Our headquarters are in
Ceva: Powering the Smart Edge™
Visit us at www.ceva-ip.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/74483/ceva__inc__logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ceva-and-sharp-collaborate-on-beyond-5g-iot-terminals-302389559.html
SOURCE Ceva, Inc.
FAQ
What are the key features of Sharp's ASUKA SoC powered by CEVA's technology?
How does CEVA's PentaG2 platform benefit IoT applications in the ASUKA SoC?
When and where will Sharp demonstrate the ASUKA Board featuring CEVA technology?
What makes the CEVA-powered ASUKA SoC different from traditional 5G SoCs?
