Latest media reports state that SK Hynix has completed the final verification phase for customer samples of its 12-layer sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) prior to mass production. The Korea Herald reported that SK Hynix has effectively entered the mass production process for its 12-layer HBM4 products and is supplying customers with more than 20,000–30,000 paid HBM4 samples. After establishing a global 12-layer HBM4 mass production system in September 2025, SK Hynix finalized a 2026 HBM4 supply contract with Nvidia and has begun production, according to Deal Site and other South Korean media. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics is approximately three to four months behind schedule

The traditional hard disk drive (HDD) market experienced a rare sharp price surge in recent years. In contract price negotiations for the fourth quarter of 2025, HDD product prices were finalized with a quarter-over-quarter increase of approximately 4%, marking the highest growth rate in the past eight quarters

Samsung Electronics is reportedly in talks with Advanced Micro Devices about producing next-generation chips using its second-generation 2nm process, as the South Korean technology group seeks to secure major customers and revive its loss-making foundry business, according to industry sources and reports from South Korea's Seoul Economic Daily and G-enews

China has accelerated its push for technological self-reliance, with standard-setting now extending from hardware into software. Huawei recently announced that the HarmonyOS PC Enterprise Edition has entered beta testing, alongside the launch of the Huawei Qingyun HM740 running the new system

South Korea has decided to make full 5G standalone (SA) deployment mandatory for mobile operators as a condition for renewing expiring 3G and LTE spectrum licenses, marking one of the strongest regulatory pushes globally to accelerate the transition beyond non-standalone (NSA) 5G

Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. plans to double its investment in India's renewable energy sector, committing a total of JPY2 trillion (about US$13 billion) through a joint venture with local clean energy developer AMPIN Energy Transition, underscoring its growing focus on India as a key market for energy transition and industrial growth

Following the Trump administration's recent easing of export restrictions on Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, several Chinese technology firms, such as Alibaba and ByteDance, have reportedly expressed significant interest in placing large-scale orders. Nvidia is now evaluating whether to increase production capacity of the H200 chips to meet this potential surge in demand, according to Reuters, citing unnamed sources

As India intensifies its efforts to become a global semiconductor hub, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has expressed support for the country's strategy of pursuing incremental progress, focusing initially on legacy node fabrication for automotive and industrial applications

The Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance (SUCA) said China's domestically developed General-Purpose Multimedia Interface (GPMI) standard is set for formal release

The US government is rethinking the impact of Washington's decision to clear Nvidia's H200 exports to China after a Financial Times report suggested Beijing is prioritizing domestically developed AI chips

The global automotive supply chain is undergoing significant restructuring driven by geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and China. This confrontation has extended beyond trade into technology sectors, including chips, algorithms, and electronic control architectures, resulting in the emergence of two incompatible technical ecosystems. This division is compelling industry players to re-evaluate supply chain strategies amid growing concerns over reliance on Chinese components

Singapore is expanding its domestic semiconductor capabilities through AI-focused workforce programs, SME digitalization efforts, and new research infrastructure, according to Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director of the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA)

Intel and Tata to assemble chips locally as global firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Vingroup, announced fresh investments in India