“Intel’s new XMM 8160 5G modem provides the ideal solution to support large volumes for scaling across multiple device categories to coincide with broad 5G deployments. We are seeing great demand for the advanced feature set of the XMM 8160, such that we made a strategic decision to pull in the launch of this modem by half a year to deliver a leading 5G solution.”
–Dr. Cormac Conroy, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of the Communication and Devices Group
Being a multimode modem, it will support the new standard for 5G New Radio (NR), including standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes, as well as 4G, 3G and 2G legacy radios in a single chipset. Made for phones and notebooks, the modem will enable device manufacturers to design smaller and more power-efficient devices keeping with market trends. By advancing directly to a multimode solution, the modem will offer very clear improvements in power, size and scalability and also support simultaneous connectivity (EN-DC) for LTE and 5G – critical as 5G mobile network devices must be backward compatible to 4G if 5G is not available at any moment or at any location.
The modem offers advanced technology needed to support new millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum as well as sub 6 GHz 5G NR support (including FDD and TDD bands from 600 MHz to 6 GHz) and download speeds up to 6 Gbps. The industry move to mmWave and mid-band spectrum addresses the enormous need for more bandwidth for users, devices and connected machines.
Finally, the modem is designed to cater for worldwide carrier support, broad platform certification and broad OEM support. The Intel XMM 8160 5G modem is expected to ship in the second half of 2019 with devices applying them by mid 2020.
