For a long time, the Chinese company Huawei refused to sell its own processors and modems to third-party developers. Network sources say that the manufacturer’s position may change. It is reported that the company is ready to supply Balong 5000 modems with 5G support, but it will only do this if it signs a contract with Apple.
The possibility of such a deal is surprising, because previously Huawei representatives said that the processors and modems produced by the company are intended only for internal use. It is not yet known whether Apple is seriously considering concluding a partnership agreement with Huawei. Official representatives of the companies refrain from commenting on this topic.
We must not forget about the tense relationship that has developed between Huawei and the US authorities, who have banned the use of the vendor’s equipment in federal organizations. Even if the iPhones produced as a result of such a deal are supplied exclusively to China, signing an agreement with Huawei could seriously complicate Apple’s life in the United States. On the other hand, an alliance with an economic and technological powerhouse could bring Apple increased sales growth in one of the world's largest markets.
For Apple, the possibility of making a decision to purchase 5G modems from Huawei looks ambiguous. It was previously reported that Intel, which should become the only supplier of modems supporting fifth-generation communication networks, is experiencing production difficulties that do not allow the production of components in sufficient volume. It was also reported that the role of the second supplier of 5G modems could be assigned to Qualcomm, Samsung or MediaTek. The possibility of making a deal with one of these companies is slim because none of these options are ideal. Qualcomm continues to conduct patent disputes with Apple, which could not but affect the companies' attitude towards each other. MediaTek modems are not suitable for use in new iPhones from a technical point of view. As for Samsung, the company is unlikely to be able to produce enough 5G modems to meet its own needs and organize supplies to Apple. All this suggests that Apple may find itself in a situation that will not allow it to start selling 5G iPhones in 2020.
Source: 3dnews.ru