With related 5G and AI technologies promising significant impacts to various industries, telecom operators not only have to enhance their basic infrastructure but also need to positively undergo transformation enabling them to innovate more value-added services, according to James Lee, vice president of carrier business at Far EasTone Telecommunication (FET).Taiwan's government is now in the process of releasing spectrums for 5G services, and competition for bandwidth is bound to be fierce because only with sufficient bandwidth can telecom operators expand their role in the new mobile communication era and stand firm under the impacts of "5GxAI," Lee said at a recent technology forum held in Taipei recently.The competition is be compounded by the fact that the government is releasing only 270MHz in bandwidth in the core 3.5GHz band through open auction by five local telecom operators, and each operator may need at least 80-100MHz in bandwidth to enable the offering of comprehensive value-added services, Lee noted.Even so, Lee said that he remains positive about the commercialization of 5G networks as Taiwan will be able to leverage its well-established IT ecosystem spanning from IC design, foundry, backend packaging, coupled with profound ICT applications and the availability of related supply chains.Judging from the development of related 5G application services in Korea, Lee continued that remote-monitoring on machinery equipment, collaborative efforts with robots, smart factories, medical care and surveillance will be better choices for 5G services in the early stage.FET VP James LeePhoto: Digitimes staff, December 2019

Three major issues need to be taken into account for the assessment of market trends coming along with 5G: the deployment of mmWave 5G networks, the development of differentiated 5G services, and the feasibility of open networks, according to Benson Wu, an analyst at Digitimes Research.Although the enabling of multi-Gagabit transmission bandwidth is one of the highlights of the Release 15 standalone (SA) 5G specifications approved in mid-2018, the challenge is high for the deployment of mmWave networks for practical applications, leaving the US and Italy the only two countries where telecom operators are able to offer limited regional mmWave service currently, Wu said a recent seminar, "5GxAI Trends," held recently in Taipei.However, there are opportunities for the deployments of mmWave 5G networks in large scale in 2020 as many companies have continued to improve and enhanced related technologies and more countries will release spectrums for use by mmWave networks, Wu noted.For example, Qualcomm has been working on optimizing the design of its mmWave antenna modules, aiming at accelerating the commercialization of mmWave networks.The planned release of mmWave 5G frequency bands by a number of nations including Russia, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and others in the EU in 2020 will also help push the deployments of mmWave networks.While eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband), mMTC (massive Machine Type Communications) and URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications) are three sets of use cases defined for 5G, commercialization of mMTC and URLLC services will lag behind that of eMBB's, Wu opined.However, judging from the fact that the average revenue per megabyte (revenue per MB) has continued declining in recent years, the development of 5G eMBB applications has to be further differentiated so as to improve the value of data traffic, Wu commented.Based on the standards set for slicing networks, 5G networks will gradually move towards virtualization, and this trend will bring new opportunities for white-box equipment providers to enter the traditional telecommunications equipment market, Wu asserted.Digitimes Research analyst Benson WuPhoto: Digitimes staff, December 2019

High-speed transmission, wide coverage and low latency of 5G technology are expected to be integrated with AI cloud computing platforms and edge computing architecture for application to smart city, transportation, medical care and manufacturing in 2020, a consensus from experts attending a seminar jointly hosted by Monte Jade Science & Technology Association of Taiwan (MJSTA Taiwan) and Digitimes.South Korea is the first country to start 5G commercial operation around the world, with the number of 5G users reaching nearly 3.5 million as of the end of September 2019, exceeding the originally estimated two million for the end of the year - a sign that global commercial use of 5G will take off in 2020.5G and AI are not two unrelated technology sectors, as they capitalize on each other's technological features to create synergy, MJSTA Taiwan chairwoman Lee Jih-chu said in her speech at the seminar.Based on Taiwan's technological strength in ICT and semiconductor, Taiwan-based enterprises stand a good chance of sharing "5GxAI" business opportunities, Lee noted. However, Taiwanese enterprises have to cope with unfavorable factors concerning trade protectionism arising from anti-globalization in some developed countries, and MJSTA will help them enhance their international competitiveness, Lee indicated.MJSTA Taiwan is a comprehensive science & technology platform headquartered in Taiwan and has 16 overseas branches, Lee said.Drastic changes in the industrial structure caused by AI and cloud computing, and global impacts from the US-China trade disputes give Taiwan-based enterprises good opportunities, but the problem is whether they can capitalize on the opportunities, said Digitimes president Colley Hwang at the seminar.For 5GxAI in particular, Taiwan-based enterprises have technological advantages supporting their international competitiveness, Hwang noted.As each area of 5G or AI application, such as medical care and transportation, involves intensive domain knowledge, applications should be based on DFSI (domain focus system integration) concept, Hwang indicated.JMSTA Taiwan chairwoman Lee Jih-chuDigitimes president Colley HwangPhotos: Digitimes staff, December 2019

While 5G and AI will dominate new emerging tech applications to create cash flows for enterprises in the next decade, relevant semiconductor materials and technologies will not only serve as a market enabler but also affect the positions of players in the semiconductor market, according to Tony Huang, deputy director at Digitimes Research.Huang, speaking at a "5GxAI Trends" seminar held recently in Taipei, said 5G base stations and handsets will rely on higher-end RF front-end modules and power amplifiers to meet requirements for increasingly sophisticated and efficient communication performances, with more-advanced semiconductor materials badly needed to suppor them. Significant upgrades on AI-based edge computing capability are expected to materialize in the next few years to help broaden the scope of AI applications. All this has indicated that semiconductor technologies will become even more important.Huang said that Moore's Law remains applicable to the advancements seen in handset APs for iPhones and networking chips by Broadcom, while the latest product development roadmaps of leading foundry TSMC and major semiconductor equipment supplier ASML also suggest that IC scaling technology will continue to advance in the next decade, with 2nm node to be available in the near future.To reduce IC fabrication cost, heterogeneous integration of diverse chipsets via 3D IC, SiP packaging technologies and more-advanced processes will continue to gain ground, according to Huang.He also noted that the volumes of transceiver filters, RF switches and PA devices needed for 5G handsets will grow exponentially, compared to those for 4G models, and mmWave 5G smartphones also will need more RF devices than sub-6GHz models, stoking demand for AiP (antenna in package) technology that can avert mmWave signal interference.Third-generation compound semiconductors will be also increasingly applied to 5G base stations, as III-V semiconductor materials, especially GaN, can facilitate construction of transmission systems smaller in size and lower in power consumption and cost, Huang indicated.The seminar was jointly organized by Monte Jade Science & Technology Association of Taiwan and Digitimes.At the event, many tech firms also showcased their latest 5G and AI solutions, including Han Tai Technology presenting graphene materials featuring high heat conductivity, Chang Chun Group displaying high-frequency, high-speed copper foil ideal for 5G high-speed communication needs, Xander International exhibiting multi-tasking wireless communication chips modules, Innodisk demonstrating high-end memory solutions for industry control use, Vicor offering 48V power management chips, and Aver Information highlighting smart video conferencing systems, among others.Digitimes Research deputy director Tong HuangPhoto: Digitimes staff, December 2019

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) have offered AIaaS (AI as a service) products to promote application of AI technologies through reducing technological barriers for developers of AI solutions, according to Digitimes Research analyst Joyce Chen.Chen was speaking at a "5GxAI Trends" seminar jointly hosted by Monte Jade Science & Technology Association of Taiwan and Digitimes.Voice assistants are a typical application of AI to daily life, Chen said. Smart speakers, for example, involve upstream technologies in the AI supply chain, including basic computing, data/information and machine learning frameworks, and mid-stream technologies such as common voice technology, with cloud computing platforms playing a key role in the AI supply chain, Chen noted.AIaaS products offered by AWS, Azure and GCP mainly consist of edge AI tools used in IoT, AutoML (automated machine learning) and MarTech (marketing technology), Chen said.Edge AI tools, such as AI cameras, help users to test AI solutions developed themselves to shorten time to market, Chen indicated.AutoML automates the process of applying machine learning to solving problems through replacing labor-consuming repeated work entailed in machine learning modeling, Chen noted. For example, Amazon SageMaker simplifies the process of machine learning modeling; GCP GUI (graphical user interface)-based AutoML services exempt users from any encoding; and Azure AutoML services enable users to see effects in training of machine learning models, Chen said.MarTech, such as precision marketing, uses AI to generate the most commercial value from using operating data to hike business performance, Chen indicated.Digitimes Research analyst Joyce ChenPhoto: Digitimes staff, December 2019

MediaTek is expected to launch its second sub-6 GHz 5G chip next week to enhance its deployments in a segment that is set to be the major focus of the telecom market before the arrival of mmWave technology. But the Taiwan-based IC designer has already made plans to launch its first mmWave 5G chip in the second half of 2020. With 5G smartphones set to see explosive shipment growths next year, demand for various related components are also expected to soar. Taiwan- and China-based foundries have recently seen increases in orders for display driver ICs and sensors for use in 5G smartphones and other devices. Various positive signs have fueled optimism for next year's ICT markets and industries. Now NAND flash contract market prices are expected to climb 10-15% in first-quarter 2020 as demand recovers.MediaTek to unveil mmWave 5G SoC solutions in 2H20: While planning to unveil its second sub-6 GHz 5G chip on December 25, MediaTek is also eyeing to introduce its first mmWave 5G chip in the second half of 2020, according to sources familiar with the matter.Foundries see orders for driver ICs, sensors ramp up: Taiwan- and China-based foundries have seen increases in orders for display driver ICs and sensors for use in 5G smartphones and other devices recently, with 12- and 8-inch fab utilization rates climbing substantially, according to industry sources.NAND flash contract prices to rise by up to 15% in 1Q20: NAND flash contract market prices are expected to rise 10-15% in the first quarter of 2020, thanks to suppliers' output controls and a pick-up in demand for datacenter applications, according to industry sources.

Mentors at accelerators or incubators have to consider failures possibly happening to startups due to infeasible business models, unmarketable products and services, according to advice provided by speakers at X Fail 2019 taking place in Taipei recently.About 95% of startup businesses cannot survive eventually, and many fail because they are overly cling to the prototypes of their products, services and business models, said Ben Jai, president for Hope Bay Technologies.For accelerators or incubators, the key to startups' sustainable development of startup businesses is whether the mentors at their accelerators or incubators have keen market sensitivity to recommend viable business models or modification of prototype ones, Jai indicated.Accelerators or incubators, while helping startup businesses to enter the market, seldom place enough emphasis on the importance of adjusting the business model when necessary, resulting in complacency during acceleration and incubation, indicated Pokai Chen, founder and CEO of AirSig.Startups must know when to stop: If the products and services are unmarketable and the business models infeasible, givem them up, advised Jai and Chen, both having experienced failure in their businesses.

iMarts Intelligent Technology has developed a smartphone-based solution for multilingual translation of tourism information such as restaurant menus and sight-seeing spots via QR Code, according to company founder and CEO Muriel Kuan.Wide use of the solution hinges on support by large exhibitions or events, and for the time being, iMarts looks to the 2020 Tokyo Olymic Games, Kuan said. Then, iMarts will focus business promotion on Chinese tourists going abroad and analyze destinations of their overseas tours, Kuan noted.In view of fast growing international business travelers and tourists in Southeast Asian countries, iMarts plans to provide multilingual translation services there, Kuan indicated, adding it plans to do so in Europe prior to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

China has orders all public and government units to replace their foreign computers and software with locally developed ones within three years, releasing potential orders for more than 30 million PCs. Taiwan-based components and semiconductor service providers are set to make gains from such huge replacement demand. The order is in line with China's campaign to cut reliance on IT supplies from the US, including memory products. China's home-grown Yangtze Memory is gearing up its capacity expansion; so is Samsung for NAND flash production.Taiwan IC supply chain eyeing huge China PC CPU demand in 2020: Chip demand for PCs from China will pick up substantially in 2020 due to large-scale replacement of PCs by the government and military sectors, providing huge business opportunities for Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain increasingly needed to help China cut reliance on US supplies of CPUs and other key IC components, according to industry sources.Samsung, Yangtze Memory stepping up capacity expansion pace: Samsung Electronics and China's Yangtze Memory Technology (YMTC) have both stepped up equipment purchases for building additional new NAND flash fabrication lines since the second half of 2019, according to industry sources.

Colombia-based Kiwi Campus, a startup developing service robots for use in university campuses, will cooperate with Taiwan-based metal-alloy chassis maker AVY Precision Technology to produce such service robots in Taiwan, according to company co-founder and COO Sergio Pachon.Kiwi currently produces robots in Shenzhen, China, and the collaboration with AVY Precision to produce a 4th-generation service robot - measuring 52cm (length) x 44cm (width) x 53mm (height) - means that such robots will be tested and assembled in Taipei to save time and cost for its technical staff members to fly between California and Shenzhen, Pachon said, adding taht development of the model will be finised by the end of March 2020 and trial production for 1-2 months will follow.Kiwi has applied for venture capital investment from Taiwan government's Business Angel Investment Program under National Development Fund and has chosen National Taiwan University and Shih Hsin University, both in Taipei, as initial partners for operation of its robots.Kiwi Campus co-founder and COO Sergio PachonPhoto: Shihmin Fu, Digitimes, December 2019Kiwi-developed service robotsPhoto: Company