The chips are expected to debute in 2021 as the two companies announced in a blog post that they expect to see the first fruits of their work in early 2021. They’re also working with Fibocom to produce M.2 (the format frequently used for SSDs) 5G modules tailored for Intel-based systems.

“5G is poised to unleash a new level of computing and connectivity that will transform the way we interact with the world. This partnership with MediaTek brings together industry leaders with deep engineering, system integration and connectivity expertise to deliver 5G experiences on the next generation of the world’s best PCs.”

–Gregory Bryant, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group

With intel’s previous failures making the technology for smartphones, the partnership is a wise choice as PCs remain central to the company’s plans. This ensures that it has a 5G option without having to devote vast resources. For MediaTek, this is more about expanding its ambitions. The company is already invested in 5G for phones, but the alliance gives it a major footprint in the PC world.

There’s certainly pressure for both sides to act. Qualcomm has been teasing 5G laptops using its own chips. Although they’re not ready for prime time, it might not be long before you can get a Snapdragon-powered machine with cellular data that rivals faster home internet access. If Intel and MediaTek didn’t collaborate, they risked ceding ground to a mutual rival.