Intel has announced that it will speed up the launch of its 5G modem "by more than a half-year". It will have peak speeds of up to 6 Gbps:
2019 is shaping up to be a big year for 5G, and Intel — one of tech's biggest mobile players — has finally announced its plans for the next-generation network in the form of its new XMM 8160 5G modem. The XMM 8160 modem is set to be released to manufacturers sometime in the second half of 2019, with the first devices using the chip coming in early 2020.
Intel has big ambitions for the XMM 8160 5G. It envisions using it across phones, PCs, and broadband hubs, with peak speeds of up to 6 gigabits per second. The modem will support both the standalone and non-standalone specs for the 5G NR (New Radio) standard, as well as legacy support for 4G, 3G, and 2G networks all in one chipset. Additionally, Intel says that the modem will support both millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum as well as lower-band parts of the spectrum.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem will be available to device makers that want to introduce 5G support in 2019.
Also at EE Times and Engadget.
Previously: Apple Could Switch From Qualcomm to Intel and MediaTek for Modems
Intel Announces Development of 5G Modems (Due in 2019)
Related: Intel Integrates LTE Modem Into Custom Multi-Chip Module for New HP Laptop
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 14 2018, @07:26AM
There is a post on Semi Accurate discussing how this may well be a publicity stunt, and the chip does not actually exist. After all, Intel even photoshopped the same image they used for their canned 5G chip.
https://www.semiaccurate.com/2018/11/12/intel-tries-to-pretend-they-have-5g-silicon-with-the-xmm-8160/ [semiaccurate.com]