Intel corp has revealed a slew of plans, partnerships and products aimed towards 5G mobile technology. Coming right before the MWC Barcelona, Intel’s announcements show that the company is all fired up for the next generation in mobile technology.
It started with 2G, voice calls and painstakingly slow data. Then followed 3G, that brought data speeds to the order of hundreds of KBs. Many of us currently rock 4G devices that allow for speeds in the MBs per second. The next generation, as anyone who is familiar with the basic principle of counting can attest to, is 5G.
5G is even more important than its predecessors, because it is expected to be deployed in a slew of emerging technologies like autonomous cars and the Internet of things. 5G’s faster speeds and lower latency are expected to power some of future’s hottest technologies and as such, there is a huge market opportunity right there. And Intel, is all geared up to exploit it this time.
I say this time, because despite being one of the pioneers among semiconductors and chip makers, Intel has all but disappeared from the maps. Almost no one wants its atom chips, preferring Qualcomm’s offerings or even spinning up their own — Huawei, Samsung to name just a couple. With 5G though, Intel will have another shot at capturing the market — as everyone will be starting off with an almost clean slate.
Towards the same, Intel today announced a 3rd-Generation Mobile Trial Platform. Basically, the platform offers users a development environment that can be deployed by both carriers and device makers for integration and testing of 5G devices and wireless access points. The company also announced the XMMTM 7560 Modem, that is meant to be used with LTE advanced services and allow them to operate with even faster speeds and greater capacities than the pre-existing standard. This particular modem has been built using the company’s 14-nanometer chip fabrication process.
The company is also announcing a brand new Mobile Edge Computing Portfolio that could be deployed in new age technologies like autonomous cars and iOT.
This portfolio enables Communications Service Providers to transform their networks in preparation for 5G. Together, these technologies deliver greater security, performance and intelligence from the data center to the network edge.
The portfolio consists of Intel Atom processor C3000 product family, Intel Xeon processor D-1500 product family – network series, the 25 GbE Intel Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710 and a new, next-generation Intel QuickAssistTM technology adapter. As can be seen, most of the contents of the portfolio include low powered devices.
Sandra Rivera, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Network Platforms Group said:
Intel is expanding its portfolio to bring more performance to the network edge with even lower power, small form-factor platforms.
Intel is also entering into a bunch of partnerships with various industry leaders. Here are some of the partnerships, described in brief:
5G Innovators Initiative 5GI2:
5GI2 is an open industry initiative designed to explore and test 5G network and distributed edge technologies. Intel is collaborating with Ericsson and the duo will first work towards developing technologies for Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT). The move makes sense considering that Industrial Internet of things is set to grow into a lucrative niche soon. The two will also work to develop pilots for application of technologies, including augmented and virtual reality for first responder drone surveillance of hazardous environments.
The 5GI2 will join major equipment manufacturers, leading technology companies, industry leaders and top universities to accelerate the adoption of 5G wireless and infrastructure innovation in the U.S. Honeywell*, GE* and the University of California, Berkeley are the first participants to join the initiative.
Nokia 5G Acceleration Labs:
Nokia and Intel are joining together to build 5G solutions labs that will test the commercial readiness of new wireless technology. The labs are to be located in Murray Hill, New Jersey, and Espoo, Finland. Together, the two companies will also.
test and develop next- generation wireless solutions focused on all aspects of 5G, from the network and cloud to the client.
Intel LIQD Program:
Together, Intel and AT&T will attempt to accelerate iOT devices on their way to the  market. They will also help the devices gain the requisite certification. The companies will be working towards the goal of 50 billion devices by 2020.
Finally, the company will be working with its partners — including Ericsson and Nokia — to go on an interoperability drive that will ensure that 5G technologies can work well with each other. Meanwhile, we can expect to hear more from Intel at the MWC, Barcelona that is right around the corner.
As Sandra Rivera puts it:
Today, we are on the cusp of a 5G-enabled world, filled with amazing new experiences such as connected cities, autonomous cars, virtual and augmented reality, and more, many of which will be discussed at Mobile World Congress 2017.
Stay tuned for a super exciting MWC folks!
