Apple is apparently working on improvements to 5G support for its next iPhone generation. That can be heard from Asian suppliers. Currently the fastest 5G technology, the mmWave tape, which promises a maximum speed of 4 gigabits per second, is only available with the iPhone – 12 – and 12 – Pro models that are intended for the United States of America – and also only in the networks there. Special antenna windows, which the European devices lack, allow reception in the frequency ranges n 260 (39 GHz) and n 261 (28 GHz).

Second antenna producer found With the upcoming “iPhone 13” Apple mmWave antennas are now also planned for other models. For this purpose, according to a report by Patently Apple , supposedly large quantities of corresponding components were ordered from the specialist manufacturer Qiqi Queping from Taiwan. The mmWave antennas for iPhone and 12 Pro currently come from the Japanese supplier Murata; this could remain the second producer next to Qiqi.

The fact that Qiqi’s chairman recently announced a significant expansion of production in the 5G area speaks in favor of the order. In addition, Apple’s not undisputed contract manufacturer Wistron is said to have invested a lot of money in Qiqi and is now the company’s largest single shareholder.

Wireless technology for notebooks Patently Apple continues to report on a “close cooperation” between Qiqi and Apple’s current radio chip manufacturer Qualcomm, which is probably also used in the “iPhone 13” 5G components will have before Apple finally succeeds in installing basebands from its own production in its smartphones. Qiqi still has expertise in the areas of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and has also built cellular antennas for notebooks, which Apple has so far left out completely.

mmWave technology for the “iPhone

“will hopefully coincide with an expansion of the brisk radio standard in new countries. mmWave is currently not offered in Germany and is only being tested in field trials; the expansion could take years, as a lot of local antennas are required. (bsc)