I don't think it means that. It seems to say that Apple will buy components for RF, not necessarily modems and antennas.
I'd be very surprised if Apple gave up on their internal modems. Not sure about whether the plan was ever to make antennas or just to have IP protection for option value. But there are a ton of other parts in the RF stack.
>- Paid $4.5B to Qualcomm to settle the lawsuit & gain modem/radio patents
They gain access to modem / radio patents. They settled with Qualcomm so they can continue to do business with Qualcomm and purchase modem as well as paying patents to use it.
This news means they are going ahead with their own modem. And judging by this announcement date it will be iPhone 16 at the earliest before their Modem ship.
Reminder, Apple:
- Paid $4.5B to Qualcomm to settle the lawsuit & gain modem/radio patents
- Paid $1B to Intel to acquire their radio division
All under the plan to build their own SoC modem/radio.
This would be a significant course change in Apple's plans if this means they have given up on this plan and will instead use Broadcom.