Qualcomm announced today that it is continuing its licensing agreement with Apple, as the previous agreement has ended. In a brief press statement, John Han, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), stated that the company is "pleased to extend the Apple license agreement," which will take effect starting April 1, 2027. The end date of this new licensing agreement is still unknown, as the company did not disclose the exact terms, monetary value, or end date.

As readers may recall, in September 2023, Apple renewed its licensing deal with Qualcomm to obtain 5G modems for its products. This license was valid for three years and is now expiring, requiring a renewal. In its iPhones, Apple has started using a combination of in-house modems, known as C-series SoCs, along with Qualcomm-provided 5G modems. In 2019, Apple purchased Intel's modem business for $1 billion, acquiring the engineers and patents needed to jumpstart its own modem design and production.

Early last year, with the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple unveiled the C1 modem, its first-generation in-house 5G modem, which has since evolved into the upgraded C2 5G cellular modem design, now shipping with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. However, Apple cannot fully rely on its own modem production yet, as the new licensing renewal indicates. Qualcomm-made 5G cellular modems appear to be the backbone of modern smartphone connectivity.