Mubasher: Apple is planning to wait until at least 2020 before releasing an iPhone which can connect to the next generation of high-speed phone services to be introduced next year, according to a news report.

As it did with the third generation (3G) and 4G networks, the iPhone maker would wait as long as a year after the initial deployment of new 5G networks, before its main product is capable of accessing them, Bloomberg said, citing sources familiar with the plans.

The delay might give rivals like Samsung an edge over Apple to win over consumers to phones that connect to the next-generation networks, which would push mobile data speeds when introduced next year.

The US company previously estimated that the new networks and the first wave of rival smartphones would come with problems such as spotty coverage.