Intel has announced "substantial advances in its wireless product roadmap to accelerate the adoption of 5G".

Highlights include the introduction of the "Intel XMM 8000 series, Intel’s first family of 5G new radio (5G NR) multi-mode commercial modems, and Intel’s latest LTE modem, the Intel XMM 7660".

Intel also announced it has successfully completed a "full end-to-end 5G call based on its early 5G silicon, the Intel 5G Modem", a development naturally billed as "a key milestone".

Dr. Cormac Conroy, Intel corporate vice-president and general manager of its Communication and Devices Group, said: "Intel is committed to delivering leading 5G multi-mode modem technology and making sure the transition to 5G is smooth.

“Our investments in a full portfolio of modem technologies and products are critical to achieving the vision of seamless 5G connectivity.”

As Intel explains, 5G is more than the device, as it requires "a cloud-ready, virtualised 5G network".

The company claims to be "unique in bringing the network, cloud and clients together in a powerful end-to-end 5G solution".

Sandra Rivera, Intel senior vice-president and general manager of its Network Platforms Group, said: "Today’s wireless networks are the equivalent of data driving down a single-lane highway; tomorrow’s will need to serve as a multilane superhighway as data moves at warp speed with 5G networks.

“Our roadmap progress shows how Intel is moving at gigabit speeds to help the industry create this superhighway and benefit from the speed, capacity and low latency that 5G promises.”

A summary of Intel’s wireless roadmap updates includes:

• Intel XMM 8000 series: Intel’s family of commercial 5G multi-mode modems, operating in both sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave global spectrum bands. The series will enable a range of devices to connect to 5G networks – from PCs and phones to fixed wireless consumer premise equipment (CPE) and even vehicles.
• Intel XMM 8060: Intel’s first commercial 5G modem is capable of delivering multi-mode support for the full 5G non-standalone and standalone NR, as well as various 2G, 3G (including CDMA) and 4G legacy modes. Expected to ship in commercial customer devices in mid-2019, the Intel XMM 8060 will accelerate deployment of 5G-ready devices prior to anticipated broad deployment of 5G networks in 2020.
• Intel XMM 7660: Intel’s latest LTE modem delivers Cat-19 capabilities and supports speeds up to 1.6 gigabits per second. This LTE modem features advanced multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), carrier aggregation and a broad range of band support. It will ship in commercial devices in 2019.

Additionally, Intel says it is "helping set the pace for the industry with the Intel 5G Modem".

Announced at CES 2017, Intel’s early 5G silicon is "successfully making calls over the 28GHz band".

Along with its "Mobile Trial Platform", Intel proudly boasts its technology is "already at the heart of dozens of trials around the world, giving Intel and the industry valuable learnings about the technologies that will make 5G a reality".

Finally, Intel assures us that "Wi-Fi will play an increasingly important role for mobile networks" as the company moves to 5G, and says it will "continue its Wi-Fi leadership by commercialising gigabit Wi-Fi soon and plan to deliver the next generation of Wi-Fi, 802.11ax starting in 2018".

Here's Intel's "What is 5G?" Video: