Leading carriers will soon begin rolling out new telecommunications infrastructure that’s set to boost wireless connectivity dramatically this year and next. Intel Corp. is launching a new push to ensure that consumers can take advantage of the increased speeds.

The chipmaker today revealed that it’s forging partnerships with Microsoft Corp., Dell Technologies Inc., HP Inc. and Lenovo Group Ltd. to begin producing laptops with support for 5G. That’s the umbrella designation for the still-evolving set of standards at the heart of carriers’ modernization push. It’s estimated that tomorrow’s 5G networks will provide speeds of up to multiple gigabits per second with less latency than current LTE infrastructure.

Most consumers can probably expect more modest transfer rates, but that should still translate into a major increase. The laptops that will be developed as part of Intel’s new initiative will feature its recently introduced XMM 8060 5G modem to enable the anticipated speed gains. According to the company, the first models to include the chips are expected start shipping in the second half of 2019.

That’s the same time frame in which the first large-scale 5G networks should become operational. AT&T Inc. last month announced plans to start rolling out 5G services in 12 U.S. cities by the end of 2018, while Verizon Communications Inc. hopes to deploy the technology throughout as many as five markets during the same period. T-Mobile US Inc. will join the fray in 2019.

The personal computer market is not the only area where Intel is addressing the 5G rollout. It’s also developing 5G chips geared toward smartphone makers in an effort that is set to pit the company directly against Qualcomm Technologies Inc., which dominates the mobile modem market.  

Qualcomm is working just as hard as Intel to capitalize on the 5G wave. Earlier this month, Qualcomm announced that 19 device makers will begin launching products featuring its Snapdragon X50 5G modem next year. A similar number of carriers will start conducting trials with the chip to ensure their networks support the upcoming devices.

Image: Intel