At Computex 2021, held these days, Intel introduced the 5G Solution 5000 - the first 5G modem in the M.2 form factor in its history. The new product is the result of a collaboration between three companies: Intel, the software developer for the host system, MediaTek, which is responsible for the modem, and Fibocom, which connected all the components into a finished FM350-GL device.
Recall that in 2017-18, Intel actively developed the mobile direction and released several models of 5G controllers, such as the XMM 8060 (the company's first modem) and the XMM 8160 , but then it abandoned the role of an independent player in this market, selling in July 2019 already available developments of Apple. The stake was placed on strategic cooperation with third companies, and already at the end of 2019 an alliance was formed with one of the world's largest chip makers, the Taiwanese company MediaTek.
The modem is a PCIe device in the M.2 form factor. Noteworthy is the non-standard for M.2 card size - 30x52 mm, which will require a special design of the compartment. Intel 5G Solution 5000 is planned to be installed in laptops based on Intel Tiger Lake and Alder Lake processors, its main characteristics are shown in the table.
| Communication standards | 5G NR / 4G LTE / 3G WCDMA |
| Form Factor | M2, 30x52 one-sided |
| Frequency range | Sub 6GHz |
| Speed (DL / UL) | 4.7 Gbps / 1.25 Gbps in 5G mode |
| SIM | Built-in eSIM |
| OS support | Windows, Chrome, Linux |