It was previously reported that Apple is winding down its years of investment in developing its custom 5G modems. Industry analyst Mark Gurman claims that the company is still working on its in-house modems, but the pace is reduced due to ongoing technical difficulties in the development process. Amid the ongoing issues, Apple has ramped up its efforts to bring 6G cellular connectivity to its product line, according to a new report.
Apple's expanding efforts to implement 6G cellular connectivity on its devices
In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes that Apple is working to expand its efforts to develop 6G connectivity for its future devices. The analyst negated prior reports that the company plans to discontinue the development of its custom 5G modems. It was previously believed that Apple aims to reduce dependency on Qualcomm for its modem-based business. While it is unclear at this stage how long Apple plans to stick with Qualcomm, it was rumored that the iPhone SE 4 would be the first device to feature the company's custom 5G modem.
This is not the first time we have heard details on Apple's attempt to secure 6G technology for its future devices. Back in 2021, dedicated job listings from Apple referenced 6G technology. Now, updated listings on Apple's website feature the Modem Systems Software Architect position. The job description highlighted that the individual will "coordinate the design and modeling of a 6G reference architecture," indicating that the company is gradually expanding its efforts to develop 6G technology.
Apple has also joined a group of telecommunication companies set by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions or ATIS to expand the development of 6G technology. ATIS aims to "advance North American mobile technology leadership in 6G and beyond over the next decade while building on the long-term evolution of 5G." According to estimations put forth by analysts, 6G could feature speeds 100 times faster than 5G. However, it is too early to reach this stage, as the technology has yet to see the light of day.
While Apple's plans for the future look promising, the technology is anticipated to arrive by 2030 at the earliest. Other than this, 5G is gradually being rolled out as a standard outside of the North American markets. Hence, 6G could see further adoption delays. Apple will continue to hire engineers and developers to work on 6G technology. As for its custom 5G modem, Gurman highlights that Apple's custom 5G modems could arrive by 2025 with the launch of the iPhone SE 4.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
