Worldwide spending on telecommunications and pay TV services will reach US$1,544 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 2.4% year-on-year, according to the Worldwide Semiannual Telecom Services Tracker published by IDC. The latest prediction is 1pp higher than the version published in the May edition of IDC's Tracker. If that forecast becomes reality, the above-mentioned annual growth rate would be the highest recorded in the last 12 years.
Trump's "America First" agenda will remain central in his imminent second term, with reindustrialization, trade protectionism, corporate tax cuts, and stricter immigration policies at the core. However, Trump 2.0 is expected to take a more radical approach than his first term.
With Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election and the Republican Party securing a majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, global technology supply chains must prepare for the upcoming "red" wave. Senao Networks Inc. (SNI) chairman Tommy Tsai has announced that the company will actively evaluate manufacturing in the US, anticipating stricter tariff barriers under Trump's renewed presidency.
According to sources from the network communication sector, inventory adjustments will soon conclude, with December identified as a turning point. The network device industry in Taiwan is anticipated to continue to thrive as geopolitics continue to escalate. Additionally, the introduction of new technologies, such as Wi-Fi 7, will boost replacement demand.
Weltrend Semiconductor, a specialist in USB power delivery (PD) controller chips, anticipates strong AI server demand to drive its shipment performance in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Accton Technology, Taiwan's leading provider of data center switches and networking solutions, is significantly increasing its investments in optical communication technology to support the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications requiring faster data transfer speeds.
Taiwan-based Arcadyan Technology acknowledged significant challenges in the overall environment for 2025 but remains optimistic due to promising new technologies like Wi-Fi 7 and broadband infrastructure initiatives. The company also noted healthy customer inventory levels, boosting confidence in its operational performance for the year ahead.
Boosted by the recovering Chinese market, Qualcomm recorded better-than-expected sales and issued an optimistic sales forecast for the current period, highlighting promising trends in the mobile device industry.
As ultra-wideband (UWB) technology matures and market demand increases, UWB is gradually entering the automotive and consumer electronics sectors. Its remarkable performance in digital key and safety functions for automobiles has garnered attention, despite facing challenges from Bluetooth technology and ecosystems like the Huawei-led SparkLink Alliance.
Datang has initiated legal proceedings against Unisoc, seeking damages of CNY680.5 million (approx. US$95.8 million) over the latter's alleged failure to honor a payment agreement for a joint technology development project.
RichWave Technology reported a decline in revenue and gross margin. While Wi-Fi 7 is growing, the rapid decline of Wi-Fi 5 and price competition in the Chinese market are concerns. The company expects growth in mobile phone and networking equipment sectors, with Wi-Fi 7 playing a key role in future revenue and margin improvement.
Luxembourg-based satellite telecom operator OQ Technology is testing investor appetite for space-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology, seeking EUR 30 million in fresh funding as competition intensifies in the nascent market for satellite-enabled device connectivity.
Samsung Electronics (Samsung) has released its financial report for the third quarter of 2024, revealing a 14.5% year-over-year decline in operating profit for its Mobile Experience (MX) division. While revenue from new products such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables contributed to growth, rising costs and inflation have dampened demand recovery, leading to decreased profitability.
Micro LED technology is emerging as a promising solution for high-speed AI data transmission and SiPh-based optical communication. Dr. David Su, Chief Strategy Officer of Ennostar, has emphasized that traditional copper wiring is inadequate for AI's escalating data requirements.
Dekra, the world's largest independent testing, inspection, and certification organization, officially opened its new Taiwan headquarters in Linkou, New Taipei City, on October 23, along with expanded laboratory facilities. This strategic expansion aims to strengthen Taiwan's position in key sectors including ICT, vehicle connectivity, IoT, and intelligent automotive systems.
The integration of silicon photonics co-packaged optics (CPO) technology into network communication chips has become inevitable**, driven by its ability** to enable high-speed, low-latency data transmission while significantly reducing power consumption. According to Taiwan's Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA), silicon photonics heterogeneous integration is expected to become a core technology for next-generation high-speed network communication chips.
As 6G becomes the next battleground for the telecommunications industry, governments and businesses with an edge in core 6G technologies are positioned to dominate future communications. China has been one of the most proactive forces in this field, establishing the IMT-2030 (6G) advancement team as early as 2019 under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
In the rapidly evolving world of wireless technology, Galaverse, a US-Australian joint venture, is developing advanced AI-powered radio frequency (RF) sensing technology with potential applications in 6G networks and beyond.
Apple has released the latest generation of the iPad mini, marking its first update since 2021. This upgrade primarily focuses on supporting the new Apple Intelligence features and is powered by the A17 Pro chip, also used in the iPhone 15 Pro series. According to reports from media outlets including 9to5Mac and Apple Insider, the iPad mini 7's upgrades allow it to support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Thanks to the strategic efforts of telecom giants like Huawei, China has made rapid advances in 5G, building an expansive patent portfolio across network infrastructure. As the industry eyes the 6G era, collaboration between the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea is becoming critical. Taiwan, with its notable progress in 5G Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) backed by government support, is now positioned as a strong partner for US and EU 6G concept validation efforts.
Senao Networks, a Taiwanese wireless networking provider, has expressed a cautious outlook on the immediate adoption of Wi-Fi 7 technology, despite the surrounding hype. Wen-ho Tsai, chairman of Senao Networks, anticipates a slow start for Wi-Fi 7 in 2025 due to its significantly higher cost, which is approximately three times that of Wi-Fi 6. He believes widespread adoption will occur only when the price gap narrows to about 20%. Tsai also predicts that the consumer market will adopt Wi-Fi 7 ahead of enterprise users.
As the US, EU, China, Japan, and South Korea race toward 6G technology, Taiwan, supported by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), is focusing on two key 6G projects scheduled for completion in 2025 and 2027, aligning with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) timeline, according to Tzong-lin Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at National Taiwan University (NTU).
Senao Networks, a Taiwan-based network communication manufacturer, celebrated the groundbreaking of its new factory in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, a significant expansion of the company's global operations following its successful presence in India.
With premium smartphones beginning to incorporate Wi-Fi 7 chips, followed by PCs and routers, demand for Wi-Fi 7 is expected to accelerate in 2025, according to industry sources.
Sequans Communications has announced its intention to concentrate future investments on the massive IoT market opportunity, leveraging its 4G products and 5G roadmap following the completion of its transaction with Qualcomm.
