Apple expands 5G mmWave component suppliers for wide international 'iPhone 13' roll-out

Apple has reportedly now selected five separate component suppliers to allow the forthcoming "iPhone 13" range to include the faster mmWave 5G in more territories.

All iPhone 12 models include 5G, but only those sold in the US come with the significantly faster mmWave version. Now buyers in at least some more international countries can expect mmWave in the forthcoming "iPhone 13" range, as Apple steps up its component orders.

According to Digitimes, Apple is now said to have placed orders with Austria-based manufacturer AT&S. The company has previously supplied Apple with mainboards and SiPs (System in Package) for the iPhone, and will now produce AiP (Antenna in Package) for the 5G models.

Reportedly, five suppliers are now producing AiP substrates for the next iPhone.

• AT&S
• Semco
• LG Innotek
• Kinsus Interconnect Technology
• Unimircon Technology

It's believed each of the five is to ultimately receive the same number of orders from Apple. Unspecified sources told Digitimes Asia that 60% of "iPhone 13" models will include mmWave, and that this equates to around 90 million phones.

Each mmWave 5G iPhone wil require four separate AiP components, meaning a total order across the five suppliers of 360 million Antenna in Package substrates.

DigiTimes generally provides accurate information from Apple supply chain. It has a notably poorer track record for predicting Apple's product plans. Wednesday's report is more of the former than the latter.

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