Panel makers aim to tackle the 8K market starting 2018 when Japan will offer various channel transmissions in 8K, and the World Cup is held in Russia. Demand will continue to grow around 2020 when major sporting events will be held in Japan, according to Digitimes Research.
Makers such as BOE and Sharp have so far shown some of the most active development in 8K panels, despite that 4K TVs are expected to hold over just a 13% share of global LCD TV sales in 2015.
4K TVs in the Japan market, however, currently hold over a 30% share of overall LCD TV sales in the nation, with 50-inch and above size units accounting for over 40%. The nation is at the forefront of pushing 4K transmissions and is expected to be one of the first to make 8K readily available.
Sharp will play a major role in supplying 8K panels in the future and will use 10G facilities to produce the technology, while BOE aims to do so at its 10.5G fabs, with an emphasis on 98- and 82-inch units. LG Display meanwhile is currently looking to production of 55- and 98-inch units.
Digitimes Research believes in addition to TV applications, 8K displays will also be used for public and industrial displays, art galleries and museums, public speaking areas, traffic control operations, specialized monitors and medical applications.