Qualcomm announced an agreement with Apple to extend the supply of iPhone modems until 2026. The deal, widely publicized by the chipmaker, comes one day before the iPhone 15 unveiling, which we’ll bring you live this afternoon.

The relationship between Qualcomm and Apple It was and still is complicated, but necessity compels and the modem is an absolutely key part of the phone in providing mobile broadband. Apple – to its chagrin – had to reach a settlement with Qualcomm in 2019 when a California federal court jury ruled that it had infringed the chipmaker’s patents in making its smartphones.

The deal implicitly included the supply of Qualcomm 5G chips for the next generation of Apple smartphones, although those from Cupertino explored other options, such as Intel’s MediaTek as well as its own modem. At the same time, Apple prepared for the future by buying Intel’s communications chip division and hiring other talent, such as a former Qualcomm engineering manager.

But everything points to it Apple did not have time to produce its own modems and thus the use of third parties: «Qualcomm Technologies has signed an agreement with Apple Inc. to supply Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF systems for smartphone launches in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This agreement reinforces Qualcomm’s track record of continued leadership in 5G technologies and products,” Qualcomm commented last night.

Custom modems for iPhone: a matter of time

According to US media, Qualcomm stocks only reach 20% of the new iPhones, and it’s clear that it’s only a matter of time before the Cupertinos use theirs in their entire range of devices. The goal is nothing but reduce dependence on external suppliers in most of the electronics you use.

It has already done so with great success designing Apple-A SoC engines for mobile devices manufactured by foundry TSMC, and the same can be said for the PC transition, where Intel abandoned x86 for its own ARM in all its Macs. .

Next comes the communication and network section. After acquiring the modem division from Intel, Apple did not waste a minute and started developing its own solution, but they are subtle components. Apple has to put the chips through network optimization tests to make sure they will work properly with the wireless networks of the carriers where it is sold and Apple sells cell phones around the world.

The modem must be tested to ensure compliance with global standards, regional standards and a series of tests to meet the requirements of communications regulators such as the FCC. It is only matter of time. See you this afternoon at the presentation of the iPhone 15… with Qualcomm’s 5G modem.