Apple may bring its own 5G and WiFi chips for iPhones – Times of India

Apple has its own chips for iPhones, iPads and Mac laptops. Now, the Cupertino-based company is planning to bring its own 5G modem chips for iPhones. As per a Bloomberg report, Apple is hiring engineers for a new office in Southern California to develop wireless chips that will eventually replace components supplied by Broadcom and Skyworks Solutions.
At present, all chips designed by Apple are manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The foundry is expected to build 5G modem chips designed by Apple.
According to the Bloomberg report, the iPhone-maker is also planning to design chips for Wi-Fi connectivity. The company is seeking a few dozen people to develop wireless chips in Irvine, where Broadcom, Skyworks and other companies have offices, the report says.
“Apple’s growing wireless silicon development team is developing the next generation of wireless silicon!,” reads one of the job ads posted by Apple. While another ad states that employees will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple’s state-of-the-art wireless connectivity solutions into hundreds of millions of products.
The idea of developing its own WiFi and 5G chips is said to be part of the company’s larger strategy to expand satellite offices. The tech giant is aiming to target the engineering hotbeds and attract employees who might not want to work at its home base in Silicon Valley.
It will also further Apple’s goal to make more of its own components. Most Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, Macs, AirPods and Apple Watch come with custom parts allowing the devices to pair with other Apple products.
Apple is expected to design the new 5G and WiFi chips from 2023. Apple and Broadcom have a $15 billion deal for wireless components that runs through 2023.