Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) reported consolidated revenue of NT$675.9 billion (US$2.06 billion) for the third quarter of 2026, up 16.7% year over year, with revenue, operating profit, net income attributable to shareholders, and earnings per share all exceeding the high end of its financial forecast.

US chipmaker Qualcomm will present its latest developments in 6G and AI agent-powered devices at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), held from November 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The exhibition will mark the first public display of what Qualcomm describes as the world's first 6G terminal prototype conforming to the latest 3GPP definition.

AI data centers are accelerating demand for high-speed optical communications, extending competition in the optical transceiver market beyond chips and module manufacturing to critical upstream materials. Indium phosphide (InP), a key substrate for high-speed optical lasers and optoelectronic devices, is increasingly sought after as 800G and 1.6T transceivers gain traction. With capacity expansion requiring time and product qualification presenting technical hurdles, securing InP wafer supplies has become a strategic priority for optical communications companies.

Qualcomm has secured a role in SpaceX's planned US terrestrial mobile network, turning Starlink Mobile's ambitions for integrated satellite and ground-based connectivity into a named infrastructure deployment. Announced November 4, the multi-year agreement calls for rollout to begin in 2027, with tens of thousands of sites planned over the life of the deal.

Qualcomm's fiscal fourth quarter showed a company whose growth now comes almost entirely from outside the smartphone, but not yet at a scale that can offset a shrinking handset business. Revenue fell 8% from a year earlier to US$10.3 billion for the three months ended September 27, according to the company's November 4 earnings release, as a memory-driven downturn in phone demand weighed on its largest product line while automotive chips grew sharply.

Taiwan and the Netherlands announced four joint research and development collaborations on November 4 under their bilateral Technology Bridge Program, targeting photonic packaging, 5G and 6G communications, AI data center connectivity, and quantum computing. The agreements were unveiled during PIC Summit Europe as both sides sought to deepen semiconductor cooperation and strengthen supply chain resilience despite having no formal diplomatic relations.

Slowing capex by global telecom operators and surging prices for memory and other components weakened Taiwan-based networking equipment maker Zyxel Group's operations in the third quarter of 2026. The company posted consolidated revenue of NT$7.753 billion (US$236.7 million), down 11.4% quarter-over-quarter but up 20.8% year-over-year, as overall customer demand recovered.

Weblink International Inc. reported record profit for both the third quarter of 2026 and the first three quarters, driven by growing enterprise AI adoption and sales of new products. The company's board approved its third-quarter 2026 financial report on November 3.

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) is expanding its partnership with Google beyond Google One, YouTube Premium and Pixel smartphone sales to include GenAI services. On November 4, CHT announced plans to introduce Google's latest AI offerings through its channels, while Google Taiwan said the partners will launch more initiatives in 2027 to promote AI-enabled living.

China-based optical communications module maker Zhongji InnoLight reported strong results for the third quarter of 2026 as global AI infrastructure expansion drove robust demand for high-speed optical transceiver modules and increased shipments of 800G and 1.6T products. Revenue reached CNY27.769 billion (US$4.17 billion), up 171.83% year over year, while net profit attributable to the parent company rose 173.74% to CNY8.587 billion.

Samsung Electronics defied a 16.6% year-over-year decline in Africa's overall smartphone sales in the second quarter of 2026, posting 34.8% growth and claiming the continent's smartphone market leadership by sales value in the first half of 2026. South Korean media reported that Samsung's installment plans lowered the barrier to smartphone ownership and generated 46% of its mobile sales revenue in Africa in 2026.