In a sense, the modem chip that controls communication is the most important factor in developing 5G-compatible devices. Various companies are developing 5G modem chips, but their importance seems to have a great influence on their strategies. → See here for past episodes.
Necessary for 5G communication, integration into chipsets is also progressing
With the launch of 5G commercial services by three major mobile phone companies on March 25, 2020, 5G services are finally available in Japan as well. The area is very narrow for the time being, partly because it uses a very high frequency band, and it seems that it will take a considerable amount of time to be able to easily experience 5G communication, but even so, 5G can be used dignifiedly in Japan. Should be welcomed.
With the launch of 5G services, the three mobile phone companies are announcing the provision of smartphones and Wi-Fi routers that support 5G communication one after another. And since 5G is a communication method different from 4G, 5G compatible terminals are equipped with a dedicated "modem chip".
A modem chip is a chip made from a "modem" that is indispensable for computer data communication and communicates by converting analog and digital signals to each other, making it easy to install in small devices such as smartphones. By installing a modem chip and an SoC (System On Chip, described as a chipset in this article) with functions such as CPU and GPU corresponding to it, various applications can be used while communicating on a smartphone. That's why.
As a result, this modem chip is extremely important in developing devices that support 5G. In fact, as of April 2020 in Japan, 5G smartphones sold by three mobile companies are equipped with Qualcomm's 5G modem chip "Snapdragon X55" and chipset "Snapdragon 865" to support 5G communication. Is realized.
However, if the modem chip and chipset are provided separately, the procurement side will be expensive, and since the two chips are mounted, the area on the board will increase, so it is small like a smartphone. It is a disadvantage for the device.
Therefore, as the modem technology matures, it is expected that the movement to realize cost reduction and space saving will be promoted by incorporating the modem function into the chipset.
In fact, Qualcomm offers the Snapdragon 765 series of 5G compatible chipsets for the middle class, but unlike the Snapdragon 865, which is a high-end chipset, it has a built-in 5G modem to reduce costs. It is planned.
Apple reconciles with Qualcomm due to Intel's delay in development
As a matter of course, it seems that competition among companies is intensifying over the development of 5G modems because it is not possible to develop 5G compatible devices without a 5G compatible modem chip. In particular, the change in the relationship between Qualcomm and Apple symbolizes this.
Since Apple filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm over patent license fees in 2017, the two companies have filed a series of lawsuits with each other, and the relationship has rapidly deteriorated, becoming a "dog-monkey friend." As a result, Qualcomm's modem chip became unusable, and Apple strengthened the supply from Intel, another modem supplier. Intel modems have been fully adopted in the "iPhone XS" series released in 2018.
However, Intel had a difficult time developing a 5G modem, and the supply schedule was significantly delayed, which made it impossible for Apple to proceed with 5G support for the iPhone. Therefore, Apple decided to settle with Qualcomm, which had fallen into the worst relationship, in 2019 in order to hurry to support 5G, and to receive supply of 5G modem chip from the company.
As a result, Intel, which lost a large customer called Apple, abandoned the development of 5G modem chips and sold most of the modem chip business to Apple, effectively withdrawing.
It can be said that Apple was keenly aware of the importance of modem chips in this case, and with the acquisition of Intel's modem chip business, it will proceed with in-house development of 5G modems, and in the future, along with the "A" series of chipsets, in-house developed 5G It is expected that we will utilize modems.
In fact, the move to develop a 5G modem chip in-house is not unique to Apple. For example, Samsung Electronics, the largest smartphone company, has adopted many Qualcomm chipsets and modem chips, while also developing its own 5G modem chipset "Exynos 980" for the middle class with a built-in 5G modem. You can see that we are also focusing on.
Huawei Technologies, which has surpassed Apple in terms of smartphone shipment share, is also accelerating the development of 5G-compatible modem chips through its subsidiary HiSilicon Technology. In 2019, we are developing a chipset `` Kirin 990'' for high-end models with a built-in 5G modem, and this chip is also for the 5G compatible smartphone `` HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro 5G'' made by Huawei Technologies sold in Japan The set is installed.
From these trends of each company, it may be possible to see how important it is for handset manufacturers to have modem chip technology in order to quickly respond to new communication methods. A series of changes in Apple's response may accelerate the tendency of leading major manufacturers to focus on developing modem chips in-house to quickly support new communication methods in order to strengthen the competitiveness of smartphones. Maybe.
Masahiro Sano
Born in Fukushima Prefecture, graduated from Tohoku Institute of Technology. After working on the development of digital content as an engineer, he turned into a writer specializing in mobile phones and mobile phones. He now writes in a wide range of fields related to mobile phones, from industry trends to culture.
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