Intel tips plans for 5G modem

Intel wants to make 5G modems for smartphones in its 14nm process by 2018.

Hoping to accelerate its resurgence in mobile, Intel announced plans at CES for a 5G modem for smartphones that will sample in the second half of this year. The x86 giant aims to attract design wins in top 2018 smartphones for the first modem made in its 14nm process.

The plan is an aggressive effort to be early with a chip that supports 3GPP 5G standards. Engineers attending those meetings say the first phase of the 5G standard won't be formally approved until at least May 2018.

Intel is not alone in the rush to 5G. Archrival Qualcomm announced late last year its X50 5G modem will sample in 2017. It uses eight 100MHz channels, a 2x2 MIMO antenna array, adaptive beamforming techniques and 64 QAM to achieve a 90dB link budget and works with separate 28GHz transceiver and power management chips.

The chip vendors aim to enable carriers who are racing to be first with pre-standard services they will market as 5G.

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