SAN FRANCISCO — Apple said on Thursday that it would buy most of Intel’s smartphone-modem business for $1 billion, aiding its push to gain more control over faster wireless technology in iPhones.

Apple will add about 2,200 Intel employees, as well as patents and equipment. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter and is subject to regulatory approval.

Analysts say Apple will develop a 5G iPhone by late next year. Those iPhones are expected to use chips from Qualcomm, another chip maker that, until recently, was in a legal fight with Apple over royalties and other business practices.

But after that, the business being acquired from Intel will allow Apple to reduce its dependency on Qualcomm.