In an epoch-making development, Apple announced a multi-year, multibillion-dollar agreement with US-based technology and advanced manufacturing company Broadcom. This partnership aims to develop 5G radio frequency components, including FBAR filters and cutting-edge wireless connectivity components, significantly reducing Apple’s reliance on China for its tech needs.
This strategic collaboration will see the FBAR filters designed and built in several key American manufacturing and technology hubs, including Fort Collins, Colorado, home to a major Broadcom facility.
Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed his excitement over the partnership, stating, “We’re thrilled to make commitments that harness the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of American manufacturing. All of Apple’s products depend on technology engineered and built here in the United States, and we’ll continue to deepen our investments in the U.S. economy because we have an unshakable belief in America’s future.”
The partnership is expected to buoy the local economy as well. Apple currently helps support more than 1,100 jobs at Broadcom’s Fort Collins FBAR filter manufacturing facility. This deal will enable Broadcom to invest in critical automation projects and provide upskilling opportunities for technicians and engineers. In a broader context, Apple supports over 2.7 million jobs across the U.S. through direct employment, developer jobs in the thriving iOS app economy, and by partnering with over 9,000 U.S. suppliers and manufacturers across various sectors.
As 5G technology continues to define the future of consumer electronics, Apple’s partnership with Broadcom illustrates the tech giant’s commitment to promoting the technology domestically. To date, Apple has invested tens of billions of dollars to develop 5G in the U.S., helping to drive innovation and job growth among companies that support 5G innovation and infrastructure.
This move comes as part of Apple’s ambitious commitment made in 2021 to invest $430 billion in the U.S. economy over five years. Currently, Apple is on track to meet this target through direct spend with American suppliers, data center investments, capital expenditures in the U.S., and other domestic expenditures.
Following the introduction of 5G technology to Apple devices in 2020, the company has played a pivotal role in expanding and expediting 5G adoption across the country. The technology’s coverage and performance continue to improve globally, benefiting more users with faster connectivity as they upgrade to 5G-capable products.
The partnership between Apple and Broadcom is an exciting development that promises to bring more manufacturing and development opportunities back to U.S. soil, bolstering the country’s economy and establishing a less China-dependent supply chain.
