MediaTek and Intel were already rumored to supply Apple with LTE chips starting from 2018. According to DigiTimes, Qualcomm has not been included in this list and it is thanks to the ongoing legal proceedings happening between Apple and the chip manufacturer.
“The sources said the Apple’s switching 50% of its orders for iPhone modem chipsets to Intel from Qualcomm is part of its self-protection efforts made after filing a lawsuit in January 2017 against Qualcomm’s allegedly unfair patent royalty calculation formula involving modem chipsets used in iPhone devices.
As the legal battle rages on, Apple is reportedly actively seeking new chip suppliers to absorb more of the remaining orders. And MediaTek, with its technology, capacity and pricing advantages, is a candidate to becoming a supplier modem chips for Apple in 2018, the sources continued.
MediaTek, however, declined to comment on the speculations, saying that the company has been working hard to strive for more new orders from more potential customers.”
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This could mean that MediaTek will be able to receive the remaining 50 percent LTE chip orders if it is able to comply with quality and quantity of Apple’s standards. This act will also mean that the iPhone models coming in 2018 will be able to feature LTE chips that can deliver gigabit LTE speeds, becoming the first phones from Apple of being able to reach such speeds from the wireless networking front.
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If MediaTek is coming onboard, then it does not appear that Qualcomm will have an open door from Apple. The tech company could also have some grudge formed against the chip manufacturer for making it go through all those legal loopholes to settle a patent issue.
