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Jun 23
AI data center buildout fuels optical interconnect race, but 6-inch InP wafers hit supply wall

Technology giants are continuing to expand AI computing infrastructure, driving demand for high-performance optical interconnect components. US optical communications leaders Coherent and Lumentum are actively developing 6-inch indium phosphide (InP) wafer production technology. Industry sources said 4-inch wafers remain the mainstream format, but fast-growing demand in optical communications is accelerating the shift toward 6-inch substrates. Supply constraints, however, persist, with substrate technology maturity and supply availability cited as the main bottlenecks.

Imoo beat Samsung Electronics, Oppo, and Garmin to rank as the world's No. 4 smartwatch brand in global smartwatch sales in the first quarter of 2026. In fact, imoo's global smartwatch shipments have matched Samsung's in recent years, according to Counterpoint.
SoftBank, the telecom arm of SoftBank Group (SBG), is moving to localize a larger part of Japan's AI infrastructure stack, with plans to begin domestic AI server production in fiscal 2027 at the former Sharp Sakai plant in Osaka.
CyberTAN Technology said rising memory prices have dampened customer orders and softened recent revenue, a sign that global electronics demand remains cautious. The networking equipment maker is also pushing AI-enabled products, Wi-Fi 7, and asset sales as it adapts to shifting supply chains, tariff policy, and geopolitical risk worldwide.
Global smartphone buyers may see continued pricing pressure across display supply chains as a weak handset recovery and rising memory costs weigh on panel makers. In China and other markets, aggressive promotions have not revived replacement demand, leaving flexible AMOLED panels under the heaviest pressure into the third quarter.

Optical film and nano-coating materials developer Victory For Technology (VFT) is focusing on three key areas — AI and semiconductor processes, foldable displays, and key new-energy materials — as it deepens R&D and product deployment to capture emerging opportunities in the global supply chain.

BenQ Materials is stepping up its medical push, with Chairman Z.C. Chen saying that its medical business is expected to account for 35% of revenue by the end of 2026, a record high. As sales continue to grow, he said its share could rise to 50% in 2-3 years, overtaking the company's polarizer business.
Samsung Display (SDC) has reportedly won Apple's production approval for the OLED modules used in its first foldable iPhone and has officially begun production for initial shipments. Along with LG Display (LGD), the two South Korean makers will handle OLED orders across Apple devices in the second half of 2026.

AI is no longer a localized software novelty. It is now aggressively wiping out traditional hardware infrastructure across Europe. According to new market intelligence reports from CONTEXT World, there has been an unprecedented displacement of legacy systems. Driven by complex professional workflows, massive public sector procurement, and a fundamental restructuring of telecommunications networks, AI-optimized hardware has transitioned from a progressive choice to an absolute operational necessity.

Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone appears to be moving closer to reality, with reports from multiple Chinese media outlets suggesting that parts of the supply chain have already begun small-volume shipments ahead of a planned launch next year later this year.

Jio Platforms files draft paper for IPO
Jun 22
Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), the technology and digital services arm of Reliance Industries Limited, has formally initiated its public listing process by filing a Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India on June 19, 2026. The company, which has spent the last decade reshaping India's digital landscape, is proposing a fresh issue of up to 270,000,000 equity shares.

China began approving a new batch of indium phosphide (InP) substrate exports in late May 2026, but optical communications supply chain sources said the relief remains limited and is unlikely to fully resolve material shortages in the near term.