It is not just application processors vendors that have been scrambling to secure production capacity for making their 5G offerings at TSMC's 7nm node, which is also catering to AI processors developers, such as Nvidia, Xilinx and Bitmain. Earlier this year, a cloud was hanging over the world's top foundry house amid global economic uncertainty that dampened demand, but strong demand emerging later for its advanced manufacturing processes has now promised a fruitful year for TSMC in 2019. A major driving force for TSMC's strong growth momentum is 5G applications. And within the 5G chip segment, the sub-6 GHz standards are expected to gain much traction in China.
TSMC 7nm process attracts multiple orders for AI processors: TSMC with its competitive 7nm process technology has obtained orders for made-for-AI chip processors from Nvidia, Xilinx and Qualcomm, and a number of China-based vendors such as Huawei, Bitmain and Alibaba, according to industry sources.
TSMC to post record 2019 revenues: TSMC is expected to see its third-quarter revenues rise and post another sequential revenue increase in the fourth quarter. The anticipated rebound in revenues during the second half of 2019 will likely allow the pure-play foundry to enjoy another year of record-high sales, according to market sources.
Demand for sub-6 GHz 5G chips to gain momentum: Global demand for 5G chips supporting the sub-6 GHz standards is likely to gain momentum as telecom operators in China, which has the potential to become the world's largest market for 5G phones, have given the priority to the development of related sub-6 GHz technology instead of mmWave one, according to industry observers.