India, May 5 -- Apple is quietly accelerating efforts to replace Qualcomm's cellular modems with its own in-house alternatives, beginning with a limited rollout this year and aiming for full independence within the next few years.

The first step came earlier this year when Apple introduced the C1 modem, a custom-built 5G chip included in the iPhone 16e. The chip only supports sub-6GHz 5G, leaving out mmWave, and is said to prioritise battery efficiency over raw speed. Apple has described it as the "most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone," a claim likely linked to its use in thinner models like the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.

Qualcomm modems continue to power most iPhones, including the flagship iPhone 17 series expected later this yea...