Ceva-XC21 and Ceva-XC23 DSPs: Advancing Wireless and Edge AI Processing

Ceva recently unveiled its XC21 and XC23 DSP cores, designed to revolutionize wireless communications and edge AI processing. These new offerings build upon the Ceva-XC20 architecture, delivering unmatched efficiency, scalability, and performance for 5G-Advanced, pre-6G, and smart edge applications. As demand grows for low-power, high-performance DSPs, Ceva’s latest innovations provide future-proof solutions tailored for a broad spectrum of industries.

Architectural Highlights

Both the Ceva-XC21 and Ceva-XC23 leverage the Ceva-XC20 architecture, providing a scalable, multi-threaded processing framework optimized for cost, power, and performance. The Ceva-XC21 offers best-in-class performance per area, ensuring multi-protocol support and LTE/5G compatibility, while the Ceva-XC23 delivers higher processing power to meet the demands of next-generation cellular and satellite communications. Additionally, the software compatibility across all Ceva-XC20 DSPs and legacy XC4500 ensures seamless migration and future scalability.

Highlights of Ceva-XC21 and Ceva-XC23 DSPs

The Ceva-XC21 DSP family introduces three advanced vector DSPs: the XC210, XC211, and XC212, each offering significant improvements in area efficiency, power consumption, and performance. These DSPs are optimized for cost-sensitive and size-constrained applications, such as IoT UE (eRedCap, RedCap, CAT M, CAT1, CAT4) and 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) terminals. The Ceva-XC212, in particular, delivers up to a 180% performance of XC4500 with a 12% area reduction, making it a high-efficiency solution for 5G-Advanced processing.

On the other hand, the Ceva-XC23 DSP is tailored for high-end applications, including infrastructure (RAN), High Power User Equipment (HPUE), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and satellite communications (SATCOM). It boasts a 2.4X performance improvement, AI support, high-precision acceleration, and achieves speeds of up to 1.8GHz on TSMC’s 5nm process. With its ability to handle complex communication workloads, the XC23 has already been licensed by two Tier-1 OEMs for 5G-Advanced and pre-6G deployments.

Future-Proofing

Ceva’s XC21 and XC23 leverage the Software-Defined Radio (SDR) capabilities of the XC20 architecture, allowing seamless adaptation to evolving wireless standards via software updates. Their modular and configurable nature enables customers to tailor DSP performance, ensuring longevity and scalability in an era of rapidly advancing technology. The enhanced AI capabilities also support next-generation AI-driven signal processing and edge computing, making them highly adaptable for future innovations.

Built-In AI and ML Acceleration

The integration of AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities is another standout feature of the XC23 and XC21 processors. They come with AI capabilities for modem and communications. Tasks such as channel estimation and noise filtering are traditional handled by DSP algorithms but can be supported more efficiently with the AI capabilities that come with the XC23 and XC21 processors.

Infrastructure Market Trends

The global RAN market remains strong, generating about USD 35-40 billion annually. The deployment of 5G-Advanced is accelerating, enabling enhanced connectivity and expanded network capabilities. The growth of private and industrial networks is further driving demand for customized private 5G solutions. Meanwhile, research and development for 6G technology is progressing, with commercial deployment expected by 2030. The rising network data traffic, projected to triple by 2030, necessitates advanced spectrum efficiency and infrastructure enhancements. Additionally, spectrum expansion efforts are exploring 7 GHz to 24 GHz frequency bands to accommodate future connectivity needs. The 6G market is forecasted to reach USD 68 billion by 2035, growing at an impressive CAGR of 76.9% from 2030 to 2035.

SATCOM Market – The New Space Race

The SATCOM industry is undergoing a paradigm shift, transitioning from proprietary technologies to 3GPP-compliant 5G NTN. Ceva is at the forefront of this transformation, powering Satellite 5G Base Stations that enable global coverage for consumer and industrial applications. Additionally, Ceva supports OEMs and satellite operators in user terminals, ground gateways, and satellite communication payloads. These solutions are critical as satellite communications become increasingly integrated with terrestrial 5G networks, expanding the reach of wireless connectivity.

Ceva’s Position in the Market

Ceva’s technology spans the entire cellular ecosystem, supporting applications in infrastructure, smartphones, and IoT. The company’s 5G RAN architectures extend across base stations, disaggregated DU/RU, Active Antenna Units (AAU), small cells, vRAN, Open-RAN, backhaul, and fronthaul solutions. Ceva also plays a critical role in the 5G smartphone industry, providing optimized DSP platforms and baseband modem solutions. Furthermore, in cellular IoT, Ceva delivers cutting-edge DSPs for RedCap, eRedCap, Cellular V2X, Industrial IoT, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and 5G Satellite connectivity.

Summary

With the Ceva-XC21 and Ceva-XC23 DSP families, Ceva continues to push the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and AI-driven processing in next-generation wireless communication and smart edge applications. By building on the scalable and future-proof Ceva-XC20 architecture, these offerings provide best-in-class solutions for 5G-Advanced, pre-6G, cellular IoT, and SATCOM. As the industry moves toward 6G, Ceva seems well-positioned to drive innovation in connectivity, AI acceleration, and advanced network infrastructure.

To learn more, visit the respective product pages below.

Ceva-XC21 page

Ceva-XC23 page

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