DIGITIMES Asia news

Wednesday 8 October 2025

Samsung, SK Hynix step up recruitment to secure edge in AI-driven chip supercycle

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is fueling a new semiconductor supercycle, prompting Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ramp up recruitment efforts in a bid to secure leadership in next-generation technologies

Wednesday 8 October 2025

China accelerates DUV lithography breakthroughs with patents and testing

China is enhancing its DUV lithography technology amid US export restrictions. Yuliangsheng's 28nm immersion DUV machine is being tested at SMIC, while SMEE has patented a method to improve chip pattern quality

Wednesday 8 October 2025

YMTC eyes HBM market entry to disrupt top three

Chinese NAND Flash giant Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (YMTC) is preparing to enter the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market and is anticipating a technological breakthrough. As more Chinese companies attempt to enter the HBM space, traditionally dominated by SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Micron, global memory dynamics may shift

Wednesday 8 October 2025

FuriosaAI rejects Meta, pushes forward with energy-efficient AI chips

On October 2, Meta announced the acquisition of US-based IC design company Rivos, which develops high-performance computing chips and solutions based on the RISC-V architecture. Interestingly, at the beginning of 2025, Meta also set its sights on South Korean chip startup FuriosaAI, a company gaining attention for its unique Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) chip architecture and dedicated to enhancing AI performance through the efficiency of TCP design

Tuesday 7 October 2025

NTT to launch next-gen IOWN optical network infrastructure in 2026

The launch for the next-generation optical communication infrastructure, IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network), led by Japanese telecom group NTT, is scheduled for 2026. The production system for core equipment will involve US semiconductor company Broadcom, Japanese IC substrate manufacturer Shinko Electric Industries, and Taiwan-based Accton

Tuesday 7 October 2025

CATL extends global lead as Korean battery utilization drops to 50%

South Korea's once-dominant battery manufacturers are losing their footing in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, as Chinese rivals surge ahead, driven by low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology, strategic pivots, and overwhelming production efficiency. New data shows Korea's three major battery makers—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI—are ceding market share at an accelerating pace

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Malaysia denies talks with China on rare earth refinery but reaffirms long-term ambitions for sector

Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has denied reports that it is in talks with a Chinese state-owned firm to build a rare earth processing plant, after Reuters cited sources claiming Beijing was prepared to share its restricted refining technology in exchange for access to Malaysia's mineral reserves

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Japan to expand export controls on dual-use technologies from October 9

Japan will expand export controls to cover general-purpose machine tools, integrated circuits, drones, radar, navigation, and testing equipment, requiring companies to verify potential military use. The new rules, effective October 9, 2025, broaden oversight beyond UN arms embargo countries to most global destinations, including China and Southeast Asia

Tuesday 7 October 2025

TSMC, Samsung components still found in Huawei's Ascend 910C

Semiconductor intelligence firm TechInsights has concluded, following a teardown of Huawei Technologies' Ascend 910C chip, that some of the components still come from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. The analysis showed that the chip die for the Ascend 910C was produced by TSMC and used high-bandwidth memory 2 enhanced (HBM2E) supplied by Samsung and SK Hynix

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Samsung expands B2B footprint with major Toyota smart signage deal

As demand slows in consumer electronics, Samsung Electronics is accelerating its expansion into the B2B digital signage market. The company has secured a large-scale order from Toyota Motor to supply about 23,000 smart displays to its global exhibition centers in the first half of 2025

Tuesday 7 October 2025

China's SiC industry finds high-value exit in Meta's AR supply chain

As the global semiconductor industry eyes the rise of 12-inch silicon carbide (SiC) wafers as potential game-changers in advanced packaging, a surprising development is reshaping the conversation. A Chinese startup has reportedly discovered a high-value application for large-diameter SiC substrates—one that directly aligns with the supply chain of tech giant Meta's AI-powered smart glasses

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Weekly news roundup: Intel and TSMC pour billions into Arizona; Memory chip prices soar, Hanmi expands to Singapore to support Micron

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of September 29–October 5

Monday 6 October 2025

South Korea's physical AI drive hits data bottlenecks

With the AI training market firmly dominated by Nvidia and other global leaders, South Korea's AI semiconductor startups are turning their attention to inference as the next frontier. Both industry and government circles see inference as a chance to carve out a niche. However, insiders stress that expanding real-world inference services, not just the chips themselves, is what will ultimately unlock growth

Monday 6 October 2025

Mitsubishi Electric opens SiC plant amid cooling EV market

Mitsubishi Electric held a completion ceremony on October 1, 2025, for its new power semiconductor factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The facility will produce silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, primarily targeting the electric vehicle (EV) market. However, the company has delayed expected growth targets amid slower-than-anticipated EV demand, with capacity expansion now set to proceed gradually based on market conditions

Monday 6 October 2025

Samsung faces petition to oust camera chief amid labor tensions

A petition demanding that Samsung Electronics replace the head of its camera division has gained significant traction, fueled by criticism over the company's smartphone camera performance. The petition, initiated by a prominent overseas leaker known as "Universe Ice," has already gathered over 4,000 signatures. This development occurs amid growing internal labor-management tensions as Samsung's national union prepares for collective bargaining scheduled for 2026, with talks possibly starting in late 2025

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Oct 2, 10:32

SK Group partners with OpenAI to advance global AI infrastructure

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