https://wccftech.com/apple-hired-5g-modem-engineer-before-qualcomm-deal/

A number of key events unfolded in recent weeks, starting with Apple’s and Qualcomm’s decision to end their longstanding legal battle, followed by Intel’s announcement to exit the 5G smartphone business. It made no sense for Intel to stay in the game after losing its most important client to a company that made more superior chips in a given category, and now it has emerged that Apple might have something to do with the chipmaker’s decision. Even before Apple managed to ink a deal with Qualcomm, the iPhone maker poached a lead Intel engineer to help give it an edge in the 5G modem development race.

Intel’s key expertise is making computer processors and it’s no secret that the company was struggling with 5G modems. To make matters worse, Apple poached Intel’s phone modem lead Umashankar Thyagarajan back in February and since he was reportedly playing a key role in the development of the XMM 8160, Intel’s first 5G chip, his departure came as a death knell. The engineer was also at the forefront of the development of the modems running inside the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.