Intel unveils XMM 7560 Gigabit LTE modem as it looks to 5G future

14nm modem offers dual-LTE and power optimisation features

Intel has unveiled the XMM 7560, an LTE modem that promises download speeds "exceeding" 1Gbps, as it looks to rival Qualcomm in this emerging area of the chip market.

Arriving as the successor to last year's XMM 7480, Intel's new modem is the first to be built on the firm's 14nm manufacturing processor, and offers Gigabit LTE speeds in a single SKU with global coverage and upload speeds up to 225Mbps

Intel claims the modem is readying the firm for the industry's shift to 5G connectivity, saying: "The new product expands Intel's portfolio of LTE solutions, giving device manufacturers a competitive option to quickly design and launch LTE devices in multiple market segments and regions worldwide.

"The Intel XMM 7560 modem is a strong addition to Intel's broad portfolio of connectivity solutions in 4G, NB-IoT, Wi-Fi, WiGig and 5G - offering an end-to-end communications roadmap for the industry as it moves to 5G."

Much like Qualcomm's newly-outed X20 LTE, a modem built on the 10nm manufacturing process that offers speeds up to 1.2Gbps, the Intel XMM 7560 offers flexibility, supporting 5x carrier aggregation for downlink up to 100 MHz combined bandwidth, and 3x for uplink up to 60 MHz for high-speed data services. It also supports dual-LTE on dual-SIM devices.

Thanks to Intel's SMARTi7 transceiver, which supports up to 35 TE bands, the modem allows OEMs to build mobile devices with global coverage leveraging a single SKU.

"The Intel SMARTi 7 RF transceiver and the Intel XMM 7560 platform are capable of supporting up to 230 carrier aggregation combinations," the firm explains.

"The Intel SMARTi 7 transceiver's design and advanced interference mitigation techniques delivers significant data connectivity, signal quality and performance for a better mobile experience."

Intel boasts that the XMM 7560 also offers envelope tracking among other power optimisation features, helping devices - be it smartphones, tablets or PCs - to extend battery life.

Intel says the XMM 7560 will start to sample in the second-half of 2017 with production to kick off soon after, a hint that it could show up in Apple's iPhone release for 2018.