Sequans completes share buyback programme and launches another
GLOBAL 19 DEC

Sequans completes share buyback programme and launches another

Sequans announced the completion of its share buyback programme and has launched another repurchase scheme, having bought back over 1.5 million NYSE-listed American Depositary Shares (ADS) at an average price of USD 6.17, including fees and commissions. Following the repurchases, the French cellular IoT module and chipsets vendor has around 14.5 million shares outstanding, down 9.7 percent from previously. The figure rises to 15.5 million depositary shares if factoring in certain warrants issued by Sequans

Samsung introduces memory module for AI data centres
GLOBAL 19 DEC

Samsung introduces memory module for AI data centres

Samsung has announced the availability of customer samples of SOCAMM2, a new LPDDR-based server memory module designed for AI data centre workloads, as the industry shifts from large-scale model training towards continuous inference. The company said SOCAMM2, short for Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Module, is based on LPDDR5X DRAM and is intended to complement existing DDR-based server memory such as RDIMM in AI-accelerated systems.

Qualcomm closes Alphawave IP acquisition
GLOBAL 18 DEC

Qualcomm closes Alphawave IP acquisition

Qualcomm has completed its USD 2.4 billion acquisition of Alphawave IP Group. The deal closing is earlier than expected, coming roughly one fiscal quarter ahead of the envisaged timeframe. Alphawave IP's connectivity and custom silicon chipsets are anticipated to support Qualcomm's expansion in the data centre market, with Tony Plias, Alphawave's CEO and co-founder, onboarded to lead Qualcomm's push into the data centre space.

Micron more than doubles quarterly profits on surge in memory chip sales
GLOBAL 18 DEC

Micron more than doubles quarterly profits on surge in memory chip sales

Memory chip maker Micron Technology reported better-than-expected results for its fiscal first quarter to November. Revenues jumped nearly 57 percent year-on-year to USD 13.6 billion, exceeding the company's guidance of USD 12.2-12.8 billion. The gross margin rose to 56.0 percent from 44.7 percent in the previous quarter and 38.4 percent a year ago, and net profit more than doubled year-on-year, to USD 5.2 billion from USD 1.9 billion.

Intel unveils new hires including Trump assistant as VP for government affairs
UNITED STATES 16 DEC

Intel unveils new hires including Trump assistant as VP for government affairs

Intel has named the Deputy Assistant to US President Donald Trump and deputy director of the National Economic Council as its senior vice president of government affairs. Robin Colwell's tenure in the White House began in January, where she has taken an active role in policy formulation targeting many parts of the US economy. Her earlier work included advising clients on telecoms, technology and cybersecurity policy on behalf of lobbying group BGR. She will remain based in Washington DC, allowing Intel to m

Movandi to launch Saudi operations hub as part of national tech programme
SAUDI ARABIA 15 DEC

Movandi to launch Saudi operations hub as part of national tech programme

Satellite and mmWave RF chipset developer Movandi has been selected to launch operations in Saudi Arabia under a government programme aimed at incentivising foreign investment by tech firms. Following this announcement, Movandi will be handed certain incentives to deliver a strategic hub in Riyadh, supporting the roll out of high-performance wireless RF technology across the Middle East and North Africa region. The project forms part of Saudi Arabia's Relocate initiative, overseen by the National Technology

STMicroelectronics and SpaceX mark decade of collaboration
GLOBAL 15 DEC

STMicroelectronics and SpaceX mark decade of collaboration

Franco-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics and SpaceX marked the tenth anniversary of their collaboration by highlighting a decade of co-developing semiconductor components that power the Starlink satellite internet network. They said the partnership has produced billions of chips used in more than 10,000 Starlink satellites and millions of user terminals, with their latest achievement including components used in Starlink's V3 satellites, which deliver over 1 Tbps of fronthaul throughput.

NXP to exit RF power transistor market including 5G operations in 2027
UNITED STATES 12 DEC

NXP to exit RF power transistor market including 5G operations in 2027

NXP Semiconductors is preparing to wind down production of RF power amplifier chips including 5G systems and will close relevant production lines at its 150 millimetre GaN/SiC wafer fabrication plant in Chandler, Arizona. The Arizona plant, dubbed Echo Fab, will wind up production in Q1 2027, with staff already informed. NXP intends to continue GaN wafer production until the plant's closure as part of a "transitional period", and stresses that its other fabrication lines in Chandler, aside from the radio po

Broadcom doubles Q4 profits as AI chip demand drives sales growth
GLOBAL 12 DEC

Broadcom doubles Q4 profits as AI chip demand drives sales growth

Broadcom doubled net profits year-on-year in its fiscal fourth quarter to the start of November. Net income soared to USD 8.5 billion from USD 4.3 billion in the year-ago period. Net sales were up 28 percent from last year at USD 18.0 billion, driven mainly by a 74 percent annual rise in AI semiconductor sales. The firm expects continued sales momentum in Q1 with AI chip sales set to double year-on-year to USD 8.2 billion, fuelled by demand for its custom AI accelerator chips and Ethernet-based AI switch ha

Memory prices force smartphone brands to begin raising prices - TrendForce
GLOBAL 12 DEC

Memory prices force smartphone brands to begin raising prices - TrendForce

Memory prices are projected to rise sharply again in the first quarter of 2026, exerting significant cost pressure on global end-device manufacturers, according to the latest research from TrendForce. Consequently, smartphone and notebook brands are compelled to increase their product prices and reduce specifications. A further downward revision of shipment forecasts now seems unavoidable, with market resources becoming more concentrated among a few leading brands.

Sivers wins USD 900,000 contract under ESA Satcom BFIC development project
EUROPE 11 DEC

Sivers wins USD 900,000 contract under ESA Satcom BFIC development project

Sivers Semiconductors said it has won an eighteen-month contract worth approximately USD 900,000 from the European Space Agency (ESA) under a programme to develop next-generation satellite communication (Satcom) beamforming integrated circuits (BFICs). Vaclav Valenta of the ESA's directorate of technology, engineering and quality says the new ESA project tackles the complexity and power hunger of beamforming networks in current user terminals. The project explores "smarter" combinations of active and passiv

Kioxia to produce memory chips for AI data centres in 2026 - report
JAPAN 11 DEC

Kioxia to produce memory chips for AI data centres in 2026 - report

Japanese chipmaker Kioxia plans to start producing next-generation NAND flash memory at its Kitakami plant in Iwate prefecture in 2026, according to Nikkei, citing industry sources. The new "Generation 10" chips substantially increase capacity and speed to support fast-growing AI data-centre storage needs. The company will manufacture the chips at the existing Fab2 facility, boosting memory density by 59 percent and data-transfer speeds by 33 percent through 332-layer vertical stacking, while also reducing

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 11 DEC

South Korea outlines USD 476 bln chip blueprint with focus on AI

South Korea has unveiled a sweeping semiconductor strategy centred on next-generation AI processors and a major southern industrial corridor, according to the Korea Herald, citing government sources. The blueprint, presented to President Lee Jae-myung by industry minister Kim Jung-kwan, includes a KRW 700 trillion (USD 475.8 billion) investment package to build 10 new fabs by 2047, expanding national production capacity to 7.9 million 200-mm wafers per month.

GLOBAL 11 DEC

Qualcomm acquires Ventana Micro Systems

Qualcomm Technologies announced the acquisition of Ventana Micro Systems, which it said demonstrated its commitment to advancing the RISC-V standard and ecosystem. The move strengthens Qualcomm's CPU capabilities by integrating Ventana's expertise in RISC-V ISA development. The Ventana team will complement Qualcomm's ongoing RISC-V and custom Oryon CPU development, further advancing technology leadership in the AI era across all businesses.

EUROPE 10 DEC

EU General Court upholds Intel microprocessor competition ruling but cuts fine by EUR 140 mln

The Court of Justice of the European Union has announced that the General Court has upheld a European Commission decision dating from 2023 against Intel but has reduced the fine by approximately EUR 140 million from EUR 376.36 million to EUR 237.11 million. The case concerns competition in the microprocessor market and the dispute stems from a Commission decision from 2009.

GLOBAL 8 DEC

Arm outlines industry shift toward purpose-built AI data centre compute

Arm has forecast that close to half of the compute shipped to major hyperscale providers in 2025 will be Arm-based and says current shipment volumes suggest the market is tracking in line with that expectation. The company framed this trend as part of a wider move toward tightly integrated data centre infrastructures designed for artificial intelligence workloads.

GLOBAL 4 DEC

Intel quashes NEX spinoff proposal, decides it has future as internal business

Intel has called off the proposed spin out of its networking and edge computing silicon unit, according to media reports. Bloomberg cites an emailed statement from Intel on 03 December stating it has decided against a "standalone path" that was tipped to see the firm retain a stake in the Network and Edge Group (NEX). A strategic review has concluded that keeping NEX's activities in-house will ensure Intel can optimise silicon, software, and systems integration in a number of AI, data centre, and edge produ

GLOBAL 3 DEC

AMD clinches deal with HPE to supply Helios rack-scale AI/HPC architecture

AMD has announced an expanded partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to distribute its rack-scale AI server architecture Helios. From 2026, HPE will become one of the first server system providers in the AI and HPC space to offer Helios, following its debut by AMD at the OCP Global Summit in October.

GLOBAL 3 DEC

Marvell Technology books USD 2 bln net profit after sale of automotive business

Marvell Technology reported net revenue for its fiscal third quarter to October up 37 percent year-on-year to USD 2.075 billion, near the high end of the company's guidance. Marvell said it expects a strong finish to the year, with annual revenue growth over 40 percent, thanks to high demand for its data centre products. 

GLOBAL 3 DEC

Marvell expands in optical interconnect with Celestial AI takeover for USD 3 billion

Marvell Technology announced an agreement to acquire Celestial AI, a developer of photonic fabric technology for optical interconnect. The takeover is expected to strengthen significantly Marvell's position in the growing market for AI and cloud data centres, supporting low latency, "any-to-any" networking among servers. Marvell will pay USD 3.25 billion for Celestial AI, including USD 1.0 billion cash the rest in Marvell stock. 

UNITED STATES 2 DEC

xLight secures US govt funding worth up to USD 150 mln to deliver FEL lithography plant

California-based xLight, which specialises in next-generation chip lithography production systems, has inked a letter of intent (LoI) with the US Department of Commerce to potentially access federal incentives under the CHIPS and Science Act. Founded in 2021, xLight is working on a lithography process powered by an extremely powerful light emission source known as free electron lasers (FELs). These lasers would rely on high-powered electron beams to enhance extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV)-driven chip

FRANCE 2 DEC

HPE, Nvidia preview AI Factory Lab facility in Grenoble

Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) is preparing to launch an AI Factory Lab in Grenoble, France to support sovereign AI in partnership with Nvidia. Launching in early 2026, the Grenoble facility will enable sovereign AI trial projects in an air-cooled factory environment, equipped with government-grade Nvidia AI Enterprise software together with HPE services, PTX/MX Series routers from the Juniper Networks subsidiary, Nvidia's Spectrum-X Ethernet networking technology, and HPE's data infrastructure storage pr

GLOBAL 2 DEC

High memory prices hit game console margins, shipments - TrendForce

Rising memory prices have significantly increased bill of materials (BOM) costs in consumer electronics, leading brands to hike retail prices and dampening market demand, according to the latest research from TrendForce. After reducing its 2026 shipment forecasts for smartphones and laptops earlier in November, the analyst firm has also downgraded its 2026 forecast for game console shipments – from an initial YoY decline of 3.5 percent to 4.4 percent.

EUROPE 2 DEC

Microsoft widens use of Marvell's HSM tech to expand Azure security in Europe

Marvell Technology has announced that Microsoft is extending its use of Marvell's LiquidSecurity hardware security modules (HSMs) to support additional cloud-based security services for Azure customers in Europe. The expansion builds on existing deployments in Asia and North America and follows Marvell securing eIDAS and Common Criteria EAL4+ certifications for LiquidSecurity earlier in the year.

Just In

19 DEC 16:42

SLT-Mobitel launches 5G network in Sri Lanka

19 DEC 16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

19 DEC 15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

19 DEC 15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins