IC distributors have expressed optimism regarding the semiconductor market outlook for 2025, generally believing that overall circumstances will exceed those of 2024. They anticipate that a variety of applications will experience growth in comparison to the previous year.

Qualcomm recently hosted a media luncheon in Taiwan to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The chip vendor outlined technological trajectories for the AIoT industry in the AI era and presented its new Dragonwing product line while emphasizing key aspects of its local development in Taiwan.

Reuters, citing a government order, reported that India required Samsung and seven of its executives to pay US$601 million in back taxes and penalties for allegedly evading tariffs on imported telecom equipment. The demand includes US$520 million in unpaid taxes and a 100% penalty, along with US$81 million in fines for the executives.

Apple may adopt TSMC's 2-nanometer process technology for its mobile chips in 2026, moving beyond the current 3-nanometer technology, according to industry sources. The transition appears increasingly feasible following positive reports about TSMC's 2nm manufacturing yield rates.

Samsung Electronics Co. announced on March 24 that its co-CEO, Jong-Hee Han, had died from cardiac arrest at the age of 63. Han shared leadership duties with co-CEO Young-hyun Jun, who manages the company's semiconductor division. Since his appointment as co-CEO in 2021, Han has led the company's efforts to compete with Apple in the smartphone market while maintaining a strong presence in consumer electronics, reports Reuters, Bloomberg, and Yonhap News.

Chunghwa Telecom announced it will join forces with SK Broadband, SoftBank, and Verizon to construct a new 12,500-kilometer submarine fiber optic cable system called "E2A" connecting Asia and North America. The initiative responds to surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency infrastructure driven by AI, cloud computing, and next-generation mobile networks.

India's smartphone manufacturing rose in 2024, driven by Apple and Samsung exports, with Foxconn, Tata, and Dixon Technologies significantly increasing production.

The rise of AI data centers is fueling demand for co-packaged optics (CPO) and silicon photonics (SiPh), compelling optical communications firm Browave to fast-track its CPO development. The company expects to complete CPO validation by late 2025, with initial shipments to follow. Several customer projects are already in progress, and full-scale production is set for 2026. While broader market adoption remains uncertain, Browave anticipates strong growth opportunities.

The number of submarine cables is increasing rapidly as global data demands grow. Cloud service providers (CSPs) are accelerating investments, with the three major US CSPs expected to add 21 new cables between 2025 and 2027, accounting for over 10% of all new deployments during this period.

Micro OLED technology development in China has accelerated, driven by substantial government subsidies to enhance display manufacturing. Chinese firms are now increasing investments in mass-production equipment to meet rising demand, with Sidtek set to open its third Micro OLED factory in Mianyang, Sichuan province.

In today's evolving global digital economy, submarine cables have emerged as crucial assets for tech giants seeking to dominate internet infrastructure through strategic investments and direct ownership.