5G will transform the way we live, work, and play. It will usher in a wave of innovation in data-centric applications and services and will enable new use cases, markets and verticals. At Intel, we’ve been working hard to create the products and solutions that realize the promise of 5G. I am extremely excited to share the progress of that work including our latest innovations in 5G wireless connectivity.

Intel is unique in our ability to lead in 5G, delivering products and solutions from the cloud to the network to the client. As you can read here, Intel is delivering solutions to help operators transform their networks into efficient, flexible, and agile, and massively scalable deployments with compute-centric technology. And with strength in both WiFi and cellular modems, Intel wireless products will help power the devices that deliver the 5G revolution starting with our first 5G multi-mode modem solution.

We are committed to a roadmap of 5G multi-mode performance modems with ever-evolving enhanced features/performance, enabling 5G product commercialization across a range of market segments. Intel’s multi-mode 5G modem announced last November, the Intel® XMM™ 8160 modem, is targeted to coincide with broad 5G deployments in 2020 and will support 5GNR as well as 4G, 3G, and 2G legacy radios in a single chipset.

At Mobile World Congress this year, we have a number of announcements to demonstrate our continued momentum for our 5G product plans:

Faster Data Rates, Enhanced Power Efficiency, and Smaller Product Footprints

To continue to enhance our product portfolio, Intel and Skyworks have worked together to co-optimize the Intel XMM 8160 5G modem with the Skyworks Sky5™ RF front end modules for sub 6GHz solutions. This work will create the industry’s most highly-optimized open market solution for 5G modem and RF front end. The joint reference design will deliver devices that fully leverage the unique features and capabilities of Intel’s modem, power management, transceiver, and envelop tracking chips while also driving new features to enhance front-end performance. For our customers, the combined solution will produce faster data rates, enhanced power efficiency, and smaller product footprints.

Enabling mmWave Services

Optimized for our XMM 8160 5G modem, Intel has developed a mmWave RF antenna chip to enable customer devices that are designed to support mmWave services. Intel has a history of mmWave innovation and expertise with WiGig and 60 GHz and has delivered products based on this since 2014. Over the past few years, Intel has helped lead the industry with 5G trials using the Intel® Mobile Trial Platform to demonstrate the ability of mmWave spectrum to enhance over-the-air speeds in a range of different use cases.

Scaling 5G Connectivity Beyond Phones

Wireless module vendor Fibocom is announcing the FG100 5G M.2 module using the Intel XMM 8160 modem. This Intel-powered module is targeted to global vertical markets and is designed to enable scaling of 5G connectivity beyond phones. The module offers a similar architecture and common hardware footprint to its 4G predecessor, the commercially available L860 using the Intel® XMM™ 7560 Gigabit LTE modem, giving customers a seamless transition from 4G to 5G capability as those networks are deployed. Additionally, Intel and Fibocom have worked on a prototype Thunderbolt™ 3 adapter, which will be demonstrated in the Intel booth at MWC. This adapter enables Windows-based devices with Thunderbolt™ 3 ports to have easy cellular connectivity on the go. Designed initially with 4G, the adapter can be upgraded to 5G.

Delivering Early Use Cases for the Home

We’re addressing the fixed wireless market, which is expected to be one of the early usages enabled by 5G connectivity. ODM/OEM customers including D-Link, Gemtek, Arcadyan, and VVDN will deliver 5G-ready gateway platforms using the Fibocom L860 gigabit LTE M.2 module, which will be upgradable to the FG100 5G M.2 module. These 5G gateways will deliver broadband capability to homes and businesses enabling fast speeds and ultra-low latency. With large-scale 5G deployments just around the corner, Intel is working with partners to design and build the right solutions to enable phones, gateways, and a wide array of connected devices.

We’ve shipped hundreds of millions of modems over the years. But the power of 5G to transform networks and enable intelligent connectivity is truly revolutionary. I can’t wait to continue building that future at Intel, with the technologies we invent, delivering experiences once thought to be impossible. Learn more about all of our 5G innovations at Mobile World Congress in the newsroom.