Intel has formed a research collaboration with universities worldwide to explore technologies for next-generation wireless networks. The company is investing at least $3 million to support wireless research at more than 10 universities including Stanford University, ITT Delhi and Pompeu Fabra University. The work focuses on topics including how to improve quality of service via context awareness, wireless device power efficiency and enabling new radio spectrum.

The "Intel Strategic Research Alliance" includes industry partner Verizon.

The attention of the mobile research community is shifting towards what will be the next set of innovations in wireless communication technologies, collectively refered as "5G" (5th Generation technologies). It is expected that networks with 5G technologies will be deployed around 2020.