Apple wants to acquire Intel’s 5G business to build its own modems, sources claim

Enlarge / A 5G Intel logo is seen during the Mobile World Congress on February 26, 2019 in Barcelona. (credit: Miquel Benitez/Getty Images)

Apple is still looking into the possibility of acquiring Intel’s Germany-based modem business, The Information claimed yesterday, citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans.

Intel has reportedly considered selling off pieces of its modem business, and the heart of that business is in Germany, where Intel acquired and integrated Infineon for $1.4 billion in 2011. The engineers that ended up in that division previously worked on chips that ended up in the iPhone about a decade ago.

This is not the first we’ve heard of Apple’s interest in Intel’s business. A Wall Street Journal report in April claimed that Apple was looking into making an acquisition then. In a statement to CNET and others, Intel said that it has seen “significant interest” in its 5G modem business but did not name any specific companies or partners. The statement is further quoted in CNET and AppleInsider, saying: