CDNProduct LaunchMay 27, 2026
Broadcom adds BCM68850 and BCM55050 for 50G PON gateways
Broadcom has released two new chips, the BCM68850 gateway SoC and the BCM55050 Optical, designed for 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) gateways. These complementary chips are intended to support Wi-Fi 8 and 50G PON fiber gateway technologies.
Key Takeaways
- Broadcom launched the BCM68850 gateway SoC and BCM55050 Optical in a paired release.
- Both chips target 50G Passive Optical Network, or 50G PON, gateways.
- The BCM68850 is the gateway SoC in the bundle; the BCM55050 is the Optical chip.
- Broadcom tied the chips to Wi‑Fi 8 support in fiber gateway designs.
Why It Matters
Broadcom is signaling silicon for a specific fiber gateway stack: 50G PON paired with Wi‑Fi 8. For streaming and broadband infrastructure, that matters because gateway hardware sits at the edge of video delivery and home connectivity. The release also shows Broadcom packaging a gateway SoC and an Optical chip together, rather than as standalone parts. The key signal to watch next is whether Broadcom or its partners publish platform details for BCM68850 and BCM55050 beyond this product note.
Read full article at cnx-software.com