DIGITIMES Asia news

Friday 6 February 2026

The Kumamoto master plan: behind TSMC's strategic leap to 3nm supremacy

TSMC is doubling down on Japan. By upgrading its second Kumamoto facility to 3-nanometer production, the chipmaking giant has turned what was once a secondary supply-chain hedge into a cornerstone of its global strategy to dominate advanced AI silicon

South Korean president meets conglomerate chiefs as Samsung, others pledge US$186b in regional investments

Friday 6 February 2026

India's 2026–27 budget signals systemic overhaul for manufacturing, semiconductors, and digital investment

Friday 6 February 2026

APE 2026 Singapore: Opto Precision highlights smart glass modules with Taiwan supply chain

Friday 6 February 2026

YMTC Phase III speeds Wuhan fab installations and domestic equipment deliveries

Friday 6 February 2026

LATEST STORIES

Saturday 7 February 2026

SK Hynix clears power hurdle in Yongin as Samsung faces site delays

South Korea is moving ahead with plans to develop what it bills as the world's largest semiconductor cluster in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, where SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics plan to build up to 10 advanced wafer fabs. Infrastructure issues that once drew intense scrutiny, particularly power supply, have eased after authorities adopted an unconventional approach that integrates power grids into road construction

Friday 6 February 2026

Japanese firms in Vietnam see Chinese counterparts as expansion competitors

A recent survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) shows that Japanese companies operating in Vietnam remain committed to expansion, even as they increasingly view China as their main competitive threat

Friday 6 February 2026

Samsung foundry said to plan 10% price hike for 4nm, 8nm nodes

Samsung Electronics' foundry business is reportedly preparing price increases for certain process technologies, including 4nm and 8nm nodes, with hikes reportedly around 10%. Despite the adjustment, Samsung is expected to maintain a pricing advantage over TSMC as TSMC continues to raise its own wafer prices

Friday 6 February 2026

TSMC’s 3nm bet in Japan signals a deeper Taiwan-Japan tech pact

To meet the surging demand driven by AI, TSMC is upgrading its second wafer fab under construction in Kumamoto, Japan, to use more advanced 3nm process technology. This development was personally conveyed by TSMC chairman C.C. Wei to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

Friday 6 February 2026

PC makers reportedly eye China DRAM for the first time as global memory supply tightens

Global DRAM supply remains tight, pushing major PC makers, including HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus, to consider sourcing memory chips for the first time from Chinese suppliers such as ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) to offset price surges driven by booming AI demand

Friday 6 February 2026

Intel, AMD warn of extended server CPU delays in China

Intel and AMD are facing acute server CPU shortages in China, with delivery times for some Intel products stretching to as long as six months, driven by surging AI data center demand and intensifying pressure across the global chip supply chain

Friday 6 February 2026

South Korea aims to lead global quantum chip manufacturing by 2035

Global quantum technology is shifting from research to commercialization. South Korea is advancing its national strategy centered on its first quantum comprehensive plan. The government recently unveiled its first quantum cluster basic plan. The aim is to build a robust quantum ecosystem and catch up with the currently leading countries

Friday 6 February 2026

Commentary: Why TSMC is upgrading Japan's Kumamoto fab from 6nm to 3nm

TSMC has made a significant change in its process plan for the Kumamoto second fab, confirming an upgrade from the initially planned 6/7nm node to 3nm. This facility will become Japan's first 3nm wafer fab, while Japan-backed Rapidus advances toward 2nm development

Friday 6 February 2026

Rapidus draws US$1b in private capital to revive Japan's leading-edge chip ambitions

Japanese semiconductor startup Rapidus has secured more than JPY160 billion (US$1.02 billion) in private funding for fiscal 2025, surpassing its initial JPY130 billion target, according to a report by Nikkei on February 4. SoftBank Group and Sony Group each invested JPY21 billion to become the company's largest shareholders, while IBM is also reportedly preparing to join the round, adding international backing. The funding surge signals strong investor confidence and aligns with Japan's push to reinforce domestic semiconductor self-sufficiency

Friday 6 February 2026

Singapore plans National Space Agency to tap emerging space markets

Singapore announced that it will establish a National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) on April 1, a move aimed at positioning the city-state to capitalize on opportunities in the rapidly expanding global space economy and to strengthen its domestic space capabilities

Friday 6 February 2026

Beyond 260,000 GPUs: How Nvidia powers South Korea's physical AI push

In November 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company would prioritize the supply of 260,000 GPUs to South Korea, a move that quickly drew industry attention. In 2026, as South Korea accelerates the development of "data factories" and practical talent programs for physical AI, Nvidia plans to deepen partnerships to support ecosystem expansion and sustain its own growth

Friday 6 February 2026

China smartphone market stumbles at 2025 finish line as December shipments plunge 29%, Apple share slips below 15%

China's smartphone market ended 2025 on a weaker note than expected, despite Apple's strong fourth-quarter earnings and the early success of the iPhone 17. December shipments fell sharply, dragging full-year volumes down and dimming hopes of a broader market rebound

Friday 6 February 2026

Japan's consumer electronics decline: From mobile phones to TVs

Sony has recently chosen to partner with TCL in managing its Bravia TV brand, reflecting the long-standing downturn of the Japanese vendor's television business. In Japan, once-dominant domestic TV brands have largely been replaced by rising Chinese competitors

Friday 6 February 2026

Huawei unveils new wearables, phones, and tablets ahead of MWC

Huawei announced on February 4 that it will hold a product launch event titled "Now is Your Run" on February 26 in Madrid, Spain. The company plans to introduce a diverse lineup, including wearables, smartphones, earphones, and tablets, showcasing its latest advancements in sports health, imaging experience, and multi-scenario smart ecosystems

Thursday 5 February 2026

Samsung strengthens semiconductor supply chain cybersecurity to prevent tech leaks

As global competition in the semiconductor industry intensifies, the focus is no longer limited to technology and production capacity. Protection of data, intellectual property, and supply chains has become an equally critical battleground

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