DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

DIGITIMES Insight: Arm extends from IP licensing to server CPU products, with strong growth potential in China

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:59:00 GMT

Arm is expanding its business model from licensing Neoverse core IP and compute subsystem (CSS) technologies to selling finished server CPUs for artificial general intelligence (AGI) applications. Meta is a co-developer and primary customer, while OpenAI also plans to adopt the products. Customers can purchase processors directly, reducing the time and cost required to develop and deploy their own chips, while Arm can increase its chip sales revenue.

Interview: Why this Taiwan mmWave maker chose to sidestep SpaceX and look to niche markets for demand

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:41:00 GMT

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology was previously used mainly in military and aerospace applications, where costs were extremely high. Now, as high-frequency communications and non-terrestrial network (NTN) technologies gain momentum, new opportunities are opening up across the communications industry.

From living neurons to enterprise AI: TBC pursues faster video generation with AWS

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Biological Computing Co. (TBC), a San Francisco startup that grows living neurons in its lab to find ways to make AI models more efficient, launched its first publicly available product on October 30: mischief 1, an image-to-video model the company says generates video five times faster than the open-weight model it is built on. The release moves TBC's technology from an early-access program to self-serve developer marketplaces and puts a price on the company's argument that biology can be a source of AI efficiency distinct from the standard optimization toolkit.

Honda targets Level 4 autonomy by 2027, AI maps by 2030

Lily Hess — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:59:00 GMT

Honda Motor plans to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving around 2027 and replace high-definition maps with AI technology around 2030, enabling Level 4 vehicles to navigate the narrow roads and mountain routes common in Asia, said Yuji Yasui, a fellow at Honda R&D, at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD26).

Micron says 700-plus Taiwan fab workers earned five years' salary in a single year

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:34:14 GMT

Micron Technology paid its fiscal 2026 bonuses to Taiwan employees on October 30. The company said more than 700 production-line workers earned at least five years' worth of monthly salary in total pay for the year. The payout comes while the union at its Taoyuan fab is still rejecting the company's pay offer.

Realtek targets 30% AI revenue share by 2030

Lily Hess — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:29:00 GMT

Realtek Semiconductor quantified its AI business for the first time at an investor conference on October 29, setting a target for high-performance computing (HPC) and edge AI revenue—including automotive and robotics applications—to exceed 30% of total revenue by 2030. These businesses currently account for a high-single-digit percentage of revenue, as AI expands into infrastructure and edge devices.

HHTD 26: Mitsubishi Electric Mobility to join Foxconn in 2027, targeting JPY1T revenue by 2030

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:25:00 GMT

Speaking at Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26), Kazunori Tanaka, Representative Director and President of Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, emphasized that the company's core competitiveness in EV platforms has decisively pivoted toward software—spanning electric powertrains, autonomous driving, and in-cabin intelligence. Tanaka announced that Mitsubishi Electric Mobility will officially join the Foxconn family in October 2027, leveraging complementary strengths to target JPY1 trillion (approx. US$6.4 billion) in annual revenue by 2030.

Holtek lands major server cooling contract, AI thermal demand soars

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Microcontroller unit (MCU) major Holtek Semiconductor has secured a substantial order for brushless DC (BLDC) motors, with adoption in Taiwanese server cooling fans slated to begin in 2027, paving the way for steep year-over-year growth. In addition, the company's optical communication products, specifically storage area network (SAN) disk arrays tailored for AI servers, are scheduled to enter mass production in the first quarter of 2027.

China smartphone market and industry, 3Q 2026

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:10:02 GMT

According to DIGITIMES observations and analysis, smartphone memory contract prices in the first half of 2026 often rose 50% to 80% quarter-over-quarter.

HHTD 26: The year robots share the stage with AI infrastructure

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:05:00 GMT

Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD 26) continued to focus on next-generation AI infrastructure. Although the event featured slightly fewer robots than in 2025, it still maintained a dedicated robotics exhibition area where Foxconn and its partners showcased the latest developments in smart manufacturing technology. Participants included KUKA, ABB, and Yaskawa, which are among the four major robotics families, as well as Japanese passive-component manufacturer TDK. Taiwan-based companies including Hiwin, TM Robot, and TECO also joined the exhibition.

Eutelsat eyes EUR10B revenue from IRIS2 as EU seeks homegrown answer to Starlink

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:58:06 GMT

Eutelsat said that it predicts at least EUR10 billion (US$11.2 billion) in revenue from 2032 to 2040 as it leads the EU's low Earth orbit (LEO) network initiative IRIS2. The European satellite player is viewed by the EU to be a homegrown alternative to SpaceX's Starlink satellite service and a key to reducing technological reliance on the US.

Taiwan's economic indicator signals 'booming' for 10th straight month on AI-driven shipments

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:55:00 GMT

Taiwan's economy has stayed in "booming" territory for a record 10th consecutive month, according to the monitoring indicator compiled by the National Development Council (NDC), the government's monthly gauge of the business cycle. The streak, which began in December 2025, reflects continued strength in shipments of electronic and information and communications technology (ICT) products, and surpasses the previous high of nine straight months set from February to October 2021.

C Sun Mfg invests in Nemstek to expand advanced packaging equipment

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:55:00 GMT

C Sun Mfg announced on October 30 that it would subscribe for 1,900 lots of Nemstek's privately placed common shares as a strategic investor, giving it an expected stake of approximately 4.68% upon completion. The investment is intended to combine the companies' plasma treatment, thermal processing and automation capabilities as advanced packaging moves toward higher-density integration.

SK Hynix taps HBM veteran to lead new American unit

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:48:07 GMT

SK Hynix has appointed its AI memory development chief to lead a newly established Americas unit based in the US, putting a technology veteran closer to major US customers as the industry shifts toward customized high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and deeper collaboration with chip developers.

Google, Foxconn aims to cut AI infrastructure deployment to six months

Lily Hess — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:37:59 GMT

Google is deepening its strategic partnership with Foxconn to accelerate AI infrastructure deployment, aiming to cut the time from chip supply to data-center deployment from the traditional 12 to 18 months to about six months, said Rehan Sheikh, vice president of global silicon chip technology and manufacturing at Google Cloud, at Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26) on October 30.

HHTD 26: Foxconn unveils three new EVs, expanding Model A and K platforms

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:35:00 GMT

Foxconn Technology Group Chief Strategy Officer Jun Seki unveiled three new electric vehicles (EVs) at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD 26): the Model A+, an SUV derived from the Model A platform; the Model K, a light-duty truck built on a new compact platform; and the Model K+, a small SUV based on the Model K.

Foxconn, TECO showcase factory-built infrastructure for AI data center expansion

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Hon Hai (Foxconn) and TECO Electric & Machinery showcased a jointly developed modular data center at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026, highlighting a factory-built approach to AI infrastructure. The 40-foot container integrates computing, cooling, power, energy management, and fire protection systems, as the companies target rising global demand for AI computing capacity.

Foxconn argues it is more than a box mover in AI hardware

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:25:00 GMT

Foxconn chairman Young Liu said the company's core strengths are processing capabilities and vertical integration, as the manufacturer seeks to move beyond its long-standing image as a simple "Box Mover." At its 2026 Hon Hai Tech Day, Liu described an end-to-end model spanning design, components, assembly, software integration, and global logistics.

China's memory module bellwethers post record profits as 3Q26 momentum fades

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:20:00 GMT

China's listed memory module makers, whose results offer an early read on how the global memory upcycle is reaching the country's storage supply chain, reported net profit gains of more than 300-fold at the top end for the first nine months of 2026. Yet several of the largest players also posted sharp sequential profit declines in the third quarter, suggesting the windfall from low-cost inventory meeting surging contract prices is narrowing.

Samsung SDI posts 12-quarter high in 3Q26 operating profit

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:12:31 GMT

Samsung SDI, a major South Korean battery maker, posted strong results in the third quarter of 2026 as rising energy storage system (ESS) battery demand lifted operating profit to its highest level in 12 quarters. The company is also expanding into emerging applications, advancing the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries and securing new cylindrical battery customers in aerospace and humanoid robotics.

VinFast aims to make India one of its two largest markets as overseas sales trail target

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:31:45 GMT

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast aims to make India one of its two largest markets alongside Vietnam, Tapan Ghosh, CEO of VinFast Asia, told Nikkei Asia in an interview published on October 28. The Nasdaq-listed company expects Asia, including Vietnam, to account for 90% of its global sales by 2030.

Nvidia secures substrate capacity as FCBGA market targets US$27.3 billion by 2030

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Nvidia has begun securing advanced substrate capacity in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, using capacity reservation agreements and upfront payments to support supplier expansion as next-generation AI accelerators ramp up. The move comes as the global packaging substrate market is projected to grow from US$14.9 billion in 2025 to US$40.2 billion in 2030, while demand for advanced ABF build-up materials is expected to exceed supply from 2027.

BYD sees 28% profit growth for 3Q26, but still falls short of forecasts

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT

BYD reported rising profits for the third quarter of 2026, but its performance fell short of analysts' forecasts. The result stems from the challenges China's automakers face, navigating price wars at home while pushing to expand to higher-margin overseas markets.

HHTD 26: Foxconn Chairman highlights processing and vertical integration strengths

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 06:46:43 GMT

Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said at the opening of Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD26) on October 30 that the company's core competitive strengths lie in its "processing capabilities" and "vertical integration," as the company seeks to dispel the perception that it is merely a "box mover" handling basic system assembly.

Jinpao targets power cabinets, BBUs in AI-related expansion

Kevin Wang — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 06:20:00 GMT

Thailand-based precision sheet-metal manufacturer Jinpao Precision has entered the supply chain of a leading Thailand-based power-management company on the strength of its resilient manufacturing capabilities and highly adaptable product layout strategy. The company is accelerating its expansion in Thailand to capture growing AI demand as it furthers its efforts in high-end power cabinets, backup battery unit (BBU) systems, and energy-storage components.

ASE expects packaging and testing margins to stay above 30%

Sherri Wang — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT

ASE Technology Holding (ASEH) expects gross margins in its packaging and testing business to remain above 30% in 2027 as growing demand for AI-related advanced packaging helps the company move beyond the profitability ceiling that has historically constrained the industry.

Commentary: Why Marvell's rumored Lumentum buy may be hard to pull off but harder to pass up

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 05:52:47 GMT

Marvell is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Lumentum, a major laser supplier, in a deal that could be announced as early as next week if no other technology giant intervenes. Based on Lumentum's current market capitalization of approximately US$83 billion, the transaction would be Marvell's largest acquisition ever.

KLA reportedly weighs India manufacturing entry as Semicon 2.0 opens to equipment makers

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

KLA Corporation, the US maker of semiconductor inspection and metrology equipment, is evaluating a manufacturing foray in India and is considering one or two applications under the country's Semicon 2.0 incentive scheme, The Economic Times reported on October 29, citing people familiar with the developments. KLA did not respond to the newspaper's queries.

HyperAccel, Rebellions look beyond chips to AI data center systems

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:29:27 GMT

South Korean AI chip developers HyperAccel and Rebellions are moving beyond standalone accelerators to develop integrated data center systems, seeking to combine domestic processors, memory, and networking technologies into infrastructure capable of handling different AI workloads at lower cost.

Nvidia dominates AI robot chips with 69% market share

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:17:12 GMT

The rapid development of AI robotics applications is driving a sharp increase in semiconductor computing requirements. According to DIGITIMES Intelligence, Nvidia is set to dominate the 2026 AI robotics computing IC market with a 69% share, far outpacing Intel (11%), Qualcomm (5%), and AMD (2%). Beyond raw computing power, Nvidia's comprehensive software ecosystem is the critical factor leaving competitors in its wake.

Amazon 3Q26 earnings call: AWS targets 40%-plus growth through 2028 as satellite costs weigh on near-term profit

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:15:00 GMT

Amazon expects its cloud unit to keep growing faster than 40% a year through 2028, even as costs from its satellite internet project hold back fourth-quarter profit.

Intel tells Taiwan's chip suppliers to build service capacity early

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:14:47 GMT

Intel told Taiwanese chip equipment and materials suppliers that they need spare parts and service capability in place early if they want its business. The company said this at a supplier forum held by industry group SEMI in San Francisco ahead of the SEMICON West trade show.

Nvidia weighs credit support for Nscale as data center, IPO face pressure

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:14:22 GMT

Nvidia is reportedly evaluating billions of dollars in credit support for UK neocloud provider Nscale to help cover power and construction costs for a data center in West Virginia. Nscale faces simultaneous pressure to accelerate the launch of the Nvidia chip-powered campus, which is expected to be used by AI startup Anthropic, while preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), underscoring how AI infrastructure competition is expanding from chip supply to financing and construction capabilities.

Jensen Huang calls Megaspeed ties normal amid Washington's spy probe

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:10:58 GMT

After The New York Times reported that a female executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed International was under investigation for allegedly conducting espionage activities for China, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company's dealings with Megaspeed were normal and involved no irregularities.

Sandisk sees 60–90GB of NAND per CPU in AI agent workloads

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:49:44 GMT

Sandisk sees demand for roughly 60 to 90 gigabytes of NAND flash per CPU in certain AI inference and agent-orchestration applications, as customers rethink how they use different memory and storage technologies across their AI systems.