The handset supply chain is expected to bid farewell to 2019 with much improvements from those disappointing results seen during the end of 2018 when the handset market was hit by a demand chill. Taiwan-based PCB makers have seen order visibility extend to early 2020, and they are now ready to keep production running during the Lunar New Year holidays in late January. In the semiconductor sector, the supply chain has seen strong potentials from SiC MOSFETs. In a recent interview by igitimes, Hestia Power CEO Lee Chwan-ying talked about the development of SiC MOSFETs.PCB production lines may remain humming during Lunar New Year: Taiwan-based PCB makers are planning to maintain normal production during the Lunar New Year holidays in late January thanks to clear visibility of orders from Apple and Chinese handset vendors extending to early 2020, according to industry sources.SiC MOSFET development: Q&A interview with Hestia Power CEO Lee Chwan-ying: SiC MOSFETs sees fast development and growing demand due to needs for high-voltage and high-power operating environment, but it is quite impossible for them to completely replace Si IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors), according to Lee Chwan-ying, CEO of Hestia Power.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently teamed up with robot developer Nexcobot to jointly develop a smart robotic solution, prodiving users from non-manufacturing industries with a modularized toolkit to reduce their learning curves and accelerate development of smart robots that suit their specific needs.Nexcobot, an affiliate of Nexcom Group, is primarily focusing on developing robotic arm products with an open platform, according to company general manager Jenny Shern.Shern pointed out that Nexcobot has received many inquiries from non-manufacturing industries, and expects demand from these areas to grow 15 times faster than that from conventional industries.However, for non-manufacturing industries to customize their robots for specific needs is a rather difficult task, and therefore, Nexcobot is hoping its cooperation with AWS can simplify the process. A combination of Nexcobot's Smart Robot Box with AWS' RoboMaker platform is expected to accelerate the development, testing and deployment processes.Users are allowed to develop and test robots via the cloud-based RoboMaker platform's simulation system and then synchronize their programs via Nexcobot's Smart Robot Box to their robotic arms or automated guided vehicles (AGV).So far, the biggest challenge in robotic application development is that there has not yet been an open standard and Nexcobot's Smart Robot Box with open architecture is able to resolve such a problem as most mainstream robot products available in the market are all supported by Smart Robot Box.Nexcobot general manager Jenny Shern (left)Photo: Chloe Liao, Digitimes, November 2019

The scale of 5G commercial services will gain momentum in 2020, fueled by new business opportunities arising from the growing 5G FWA (fixed wireless access) market and significant growth in the number of end market devices in terms of product categories and styles supporting 5G communications, according to Digitimes Research.The phenomenal growth of the 5G services is set to come even though the number of new 4G LTE networks is still growing steadily because of its mature supply chain and sound business model, Digitimes Research says.However, as of the end of October 2019, 46 telecom operators in 26 countries have kicked off commercial operations of 5G networks, and the number of operational 5G networks in the initial period is three times that of those during 4G services' initial runs, according to GSA (Global Mobile Suppliers Association).This phenomenon indicates that most countries and telecom operators around the world have been keen to accelerate the deployments of their 5G networks, GSA noted.Meanwhile, as of mid-October, the number of 5G end-market devices that had been introduced (including those not yet launched) has reached 172, mainly CPE (customer premises equipment) such as handsets and modules, GSA revealed.While the development of the mmWave network market has been slower than expected, 60 out of the 172 5G end-market devices support mmWave technology. Given that 61% of current 5G network operators are offering FWA services, the scale of the mmWave market is set to ramp up significantly.Digitimes Research believes that the development of the mobile network market will show a high degree of differentiation in 2020, with mobile service providers likely to offer both sub-6 GHz and mmWave services, or merely sub-6 GHz or 4G LTE services that will complicate the mobile chipset market.Chipset providers Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics are likely to offer multiple SoC solutions to meet demand from different market segments, while MediaTek and HiSilcon Technologies are expected to focus on sub-6 GHz segment, Digitimes Research says.

TSMC has committed to building its most advanced fabs in Taiwan, but that doesn't mean that it will stop expanding production capacity elsewhere, particularly China, which is home to some of its biggest clients. Both TSMC and UMC have plans to increase their 12-inch fab capacity in China to meet growing demand from the country's IC designers. But the US-China trade has indeed been sending more Taiwanese investors returning hom from China. Innolux has already commit over NT$70 billion to building production lines in Taiwan. Fellow panel makers, AUO and CPT, are also increasing investments in Taiwan.TSMC, UMC plan capacity expansions in China: TSMC and UMC both plan to expand production capacities at their 12-inch wafer fabs in China to satisfy growing demand from local chipmakers.Innolux pledges to invest NT$70.1 billion in Taiwan: Panel maker Innolux will invest over NT$70.1 billion (US$2.29 billion) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has announced. The MOEA has issued a green light to the Innolux project, saying it is in line with the government's goal of encouraging Taiwanese firm to return and invest at home.

Taiwan-based InSynerger Technology has introduced cloud computing-based power management services by virtue of IoT, big data analysis and AI for non-residential users, according to company president Polon Chuang.InSynerger, spun off from government-sponsored Information Industry Institute (III) in 2017, uses IoT sensors to collect power consumption data from machines and equipment, and provides cloud computing-based platforms for users to improve power use efficiency and save energy, Chuang said. In addition to monitoring power use, power consumption data can be used in analysis to detect abnormal operating conditions for machines and equipment and optimize manufacturing processes, Chuang noted.Based on analysis of historical data on power consumption and relevant data such as output and working days, InSynerger predicts monthly power demand as reference for users to decide on optimal monthly contract capacity for electricity supply with state-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), Chuang indicated.If actual power consumption is below contract capacity, power billing is based on the contract capacity, but actual power consumption in excess contract capacity is subject to extra charge at a higher rate, Chuang explained. Therefore, it is the most appropriate that actual power consumption is equal to contract capacity, Chuang noted. In line with the prediction, InSynerger helps users control power use not to exceed contract capacity, Chuang said.InSynerger is cooperating with Taipower to develop a cloud computing-based ADR (automated demand response) platform to enable Taipower to reach smart real-time adjustment in distribution and supply of power based on actual demand.InSynerger Technology president Polon ChuangPhoto: Chloe Liao, Digitimes, November 2019

The worldwide top-5 notebook brands saw their combined shipments slip 13% on month in October 2019, better than that of the same month a year ago, thanks to some lingering seasonal demand and some brand vendors' strong enterprise product shipments, according to Digitimes Research.Hewlett-Packard's (HP) shipments plunged 16% on month in October due to its business restructuring and layoff. Lenovo had an over 20% on-month decline in the month because of China's weak domestic demand, Digitimes Research's numbers show.Dell was the only top-5 brand enjoying an on-month growth in October as a result of its strong sales in North America's enterprise market. Dell also surpassed Lenovo to become the second largest brand in the month in terms of shipments.The top-3 notebook ODMs saw their combined shipments drop in a scale similar to that of the top-5 brands in October with Quanta Computer producing the best results as its orders from HP had the least decline compared to those of its competitors.

For Taiwan to efficiently develop startups, it is imperative for the government to help young talent connect to Israel's startup ecosystem and bring back that country's entrepreneurship, according to TA Wang, chief of the Science and Technology Division at Taipei Economic and Culture Center in Tel-Aviv.Wang told Digitimes in a recent interview that around 350-400 startups are created in Israel per year, bolstered by a sound startup environment. He stressed that Taiwan has to first build a good startup ecosystem integrating technology, talent, funding and environment if it wants to boost the survival rate of the country's startups.Taiwan should also learn from the innovation environment and self-confidence of startups in the Silicon Valley and Israel, and bring talent and funds into full play, Wang said, adding that such efforts will likely bear fruit in the near future.Without an automaking industry, Israel has become a global automotive technology center, with at least 15 first-tier international automakers setting up operating offices there, as over 300 startups are now engaged in developing autonomous driving, Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and other automotive solutions there, according to Wang.Wang cited Israeli government statistics as indicating that Israel now has over 300,000 people or 9% of its population engaged in the tech sector, with their average monthly pay reaching US$6,800.He said the impressive figures have resulted from hundreds of international tech firms including heavyweights as Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon all setting up operations in Israel, offering over 100,000 R&D jobs.

While top chip vendors have been keen on securing support from TSMC's cutting edge 7nm and 5nm manufacturing nodes, demand for the foundry house's other processes have also been strong. Now TSMC and its fellow competitor UMC are both set to allocate more of their 12-inch fab capacity to making driver ICs to meet growing demand for 8K and 5G applications. Meanwhile, TSMC has obtained approval from environmental authorities for building an advanced packaging fab project in northern Taiwan - a project aimed at strengthen its 3D heterogeneous integration packaging capabilities. China-based SMIC, in line with the country's bid for semiconductor self-sufficiency, has been trying to catch up with the global leader in the pure-play foundry sector. Its latest development has seen it moving closer to volume production for 12nm FinFET.TSMC, UMC to allocate more 12-inch fab capacity for display driver IC: TSMC and UMC are set to allocate more of their available 12-inch fab capacities for the fabrication of display driver ICs in 2020 to satisfy growing demand for applications such as 8K TVs and 5G smartphones, according to industry sources.TSMC to build advanced packaging fab in northern Taiwan in 2020: TSMC's planned advanced packaging plant in Miaoli, Northern Taiwan has passed environmental impact assessment, enabling the foundry house to kick off construction of the new fab in 2020 as scheduled, which is expected to benefit the semiconductor equipment supply chain, according to industry sources.SMIC to move 12nm FinFET process to risk production by year-end 2019: China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) has kicked off volume production of 14nm FinFET chips, and plans to move a newer 12nm FinFET process to risk production by the end of 2019, according to sources familiar with the matter.

China's bid to increase semiconductor self-sufficiency will take a step further - albeit a small one, perhaps - as homegrown DRAM maker CXMT is ramping up 19nm production. CXMT's goal is to reach an output of 40,000 wafers monthly for the 19nm process by mid 2020. While many Taiwan-based firms are moving some of their production lines out of China, others are still increasing their investments there, including Nan Ya PCB. The Taiwan-based maker have disclosed it will invest another US$48 million in its plant in Kunshan to expand production capacity for ABF substrates, which have seen significant demand from the 5G networking chip segment. In the IT supply chain, servers remain promising. Inventec expects a significant rise in revenues from the server segment in 2020 when worldwide server shipments rebound.Chinese DRAM maker CXMT ramping 19nm process output: China-based DRAM chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT, formerly Innotron) has managed to improve its 19nm process manufacturing yield rates to satisfactory levels, and is ramping up the process output with a goal of reaching 40,000 wafers monthly by the middle of 2020, according to industry sources.Nan Ya set to expand ABF substrate capacity in 2020: Nan Ya PCB has disclosed plans to invest an additional US$48 million in its factory in Kunshan, China, where the Taiwan-based company will expand ABF substrate production capacity to meet rapidly growing demand.Inventec expects server sales to boom in 2020: Inventec expects to post a significant increase in its server business revenues next year when server shipments worldwide are expected to rebound by 4-6%, according to company president Maurice Wu.

Sales of smartphones in China retreated 7.5% sequentially in the third quarter of 2019 after registering a sequential 22.4% growth in the previous quarter, Digitimes Research has found. On a yearly basis, third-quarter shipments were down 14.2% from a year earlier.Smartphone shipments to China are expected to rebound about 10% sequentially in the fourth quarter, driven by replenishment demand ahead of the forthcoming Lunar New Year holidays. However, fourth-quarter shipments will still represent a single-digit drop from a year earlier as China's economy and market demand will remain weak despite possible easing of its bitter trade dispute with the US, Digitimes Research estimates.Huawei, Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi and Apple, the top-five smartphone vendors in China, saw their combined share reach 95% in the third quarter, the same level as they held a quarter earlier.In the fourth quarter, only two out of the top-five vendors, Huawei and Apple, are expected to see their shipments increase over 20% on-year, and the other three vendors will suffer a setback of over 20%, Digitimes Research estimates.