Apple Intensifies Development of 6G Technology Amid Challenges with In-House 5G Modem, Reports Gurman
Apple Expands 6G Technology Efforts, Recruiting Engineers for its Wireless Technologies and Ecosystems (WTE) Team.
Apple is working on adding support for 6G connectivity to the company’s future devices, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The Cupertino company has reportedly faced challenges over the past few years as it attempts to develop its own 5G modem and reduce its reliance on chipmakers like Qualcomm. The iPhone maker is focusing on developing 6G technology and is also hiring employees to work on the next-generation cellular network standard, he states in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter.
Gurman spotted a job listing posted to the company’s website last month for a modem systems software architect to join the company’s Wireless Technologies and Ecosystems (WTE) team. Apple’s prospective cellular platform architects will be tasked with coordinating the development of 6G reference architecture alongside prototype implementations.
From the job listing’s description, it appears that Apple wants to assess the implementation of 6G technology in future devices and the engineers hired for the role will have to collaborate with the company’s research and development teams and external partners. Candidates must have at least 10 years of work experience and a master’s or PhD degree in electrical engineering, according to the company.
While the 5G standard was introduced in July 2017, with carriers rolling out networks in 2019, Apple is already setting its sights on the next frontier – 6G technology. Despite the expected finalization of the 6G standard in the coming years, consumers are unlikely to see 6G-capable devices until the end of this decade.
Recent reports suggested that Apple might not meet its goal of developing a 5G modem for its smartphones by 2025. Instead, it is anticipated that Apple will introduce its own modem in a future iPhone model by 2026. The company extended its contract with Qualcomm, allowing access to the chipmaker’s modem technology until 2026.
Challenges faced by Apple include the potential inability of its purported 5G modem to outperform other smartphones, especially those with Qualcomm’s chips. Issues with implementing advanced millimetre-wave (mmWave) technology and avoiding patent infringement on Qualcomm’s technology further compound Apple’s endeavors in the evolving realm of mobile communications.
