Intel has announced a partnership with Taiwanese semiconductor firm MediaTek that will see the development and certification of 5G modems for the next generation of PCs.
Following the sale of its 5G smartphone modem business earlier this year, the tech giant said it is now focused on creating a 5G modem specification for deployment in PCs, which MediaTek will then develop and manufacture.
As part of the collaboration, Intel will also provide optimisation and validation across the platform, as well as offer system integration and co-engineering support to OEM partners.
The first products to include the 5G modem have been lined up for availability in early 2021, Intel revealed, with Dell and HP expected to be among the first OEMs to take the tech to market.
“5G is poised to unleash a new level of computing and connectivity that will transform the way we interact with the world,” commented Gregory Bryant, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the client computing group.
“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.”
The pair are also working with Fibocom on the development of M.2 modules optimised for integration with Intel client platforms. The first module vendor for this solution, the firm will provide operator certification and regulatory support, as well as lead 5G M.2 module manufacturing, sales and distributions.
MediaTek also revealed that the new 5G modem will be based in part on its Helio M70 5G modem, which it introduced earlier this year as part of its integrated 5G system-on-a-chip for smartphones. The manufacturer added that the new partnership with Intel reinforces its position as a leader in the rollout of 5G to the mass market.
“Our 5G modem for PCs, developed in partnership with Intel, is integral to making 5G accessible and available across home and mobile platforms,” said Joe Chen, president of Mediatek. “5G will usher in the next era of PC experiences, and working with Intel, an industry leader in computing, highlights MediaTek’s expertise in designing 5G technology for global markets.
“With this partnership, consumers will be able to browse, stream and game faster on their PCs, but we also expect them to innovate with 5G in ways we have not yet imagined.”
