Mobile World Live brings you our top three picks for the week as Google unveiled its Willow quantum chip, the US opened the door to increasing funding for its rip and replace program and Apple’s 2027 target to go if Qualcomm went public.

Google Willow quantum chip slash computation time

What happened: Google announced its latest Willow quantum chip, which featured breakthroughs in high-speed computing performance and the ability to significantly reduce errors compared to current machines.

Why it’s important: The Willow chip marks a key achievement in Google’s ongoing efforts to build a large-scale quantum computer, which it began in 2012. The chip performs a standard benchmark function in less than five minutes, while today’s fastest machines would take 10 septillion years to process the same calculation. While the application of the technology is still years away, it’s clear that Google’s breakthrough is significant, with the news sending parent Alphabet shares up nearly 5 percent.

US will vote to increase rip-off and replace funding

What happened: The US House of Representatives is reportedly set to vote on a defense bill that could give $3 billion to telecom companies to remove kits from Huawei and ZTE.

Why it’s important: The move underscores long-term efforts led by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel to secure increased funding for the removal of equipment made by the Chinese companies, which have been deemed a national security risk. Rosenworcel explained that nearly 40 percent of the companies required to make the switch would not be able to do so without additional funding. Rosenworcel said “national security and the connectivity of rural consumers who depend on these networks” are at risk.

Apple leak reveals three-year goal to surpass Qualcomm

What happened: Apple is targeting 2027 to surpass Qualcomm’s modem technology with its internal iPhone chips, after years of development delays.

Why it matters: After years of speculation surrounding Apple’s development of internal iPhone modems, a project set back due to numerous prototyping challenges, Bloomberg reports that the tech giant is now racing to overtake the technology offered by its current supplier Qualcomm. Apple’s internal chips could be used for the first time in an update to the iPhone SE series in early 2025. Richard Windsor, analyst and founder of the industry blog Radio free mobile, argued that since a 2019 dispute between the companies over patent damages, Apple has sought to challenge its supplier to “give it the opportunity to revive legal hostilities over royalties without jeopardizing the iPhone business”.