The launch for the next-generation optical communication infrastructure, IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network), led by Japanese telecom group NTT, is scheduled for 2026. The production system for core equipment will involve US semiconductor company Broadcom, Japanese IC substrate manufacturer Shinko Electric Industries, and Taiwan-based Accton.

The year 2025 has brought many changes to the mobile industry. Apple launched its self-developed modem chip in the iPhone 16e, followed by Xiaomi's Xuanjie O1, its high-profile self-developed system-on-chip (SoC). Although Qualcomm has repeatedly emphasized it is not competing with customers, warning signs from downstream clients can no longer be ignored.

Benefiting from rising demand for AI servers and high-speed interconnects, Taiwan's JPC Connectivity expressed cautious optimism for the second half of 2025 and into 2026 during its September 30, 2025, earnings call. The company expects continued growth driven by the automotive, industrial control, and robotics sectors next year.

DJI, a long-standing leader in consumer-grade handheld imaging devices, is facing a new wave of competition from major consumer electronics players. Recent reports indicate that smartphone manufacturers such as Oppo have initiated internal projects focused on handheld smart imaging devices, including action cameras and panoramic cameras, aiming to compete with products from DJI and US action camera maker GoPro.

Apple is reportedly considering establishing a small-scale trial production line in Taiwan to support the development and process validation of its upcoming foldable iPhone, as the global smartphone market approaches saturation. Industry sources suggest this move aims to facilitate early-stage engineering verification and pilot runs before full-scale manufacturing. Neither Apple nor Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn), its principal assembler, have officially confirmed the plan.

Taiwan Mobile (TWM) has partnered with uniXecure, the cybersecurity arm of SYSTEX Corporation, to launch CyberShield, a comprehensive solution offering six core cybersecurity services. The initiative comes in response to surging global demand for cyber resilience, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 report.

Apple is accelerating its manufacturing expansion in India amid global supply chain uncertainties, integrating nearly 45 local and international partners into its ecosystem. With domestic value addition in smartphones rising to 19% and iPhones worth US$45 billion produced between April 2021 and March 2025, India is becoming a pivotal hub in Apple's global supply chain.

Samsung Electronics is overhauling its flagship smartphone camera supply chain for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with South Korea's Mcnex taking over folded zoom (periscope) module supply from China's Sunny Optical. Industry watchers see the shift as a direct reaction to Sunny's ongoing quality issues, signaling Samsung's push to secure greater stability across its high-end imaging lineup.

SK Telecom (SKT) has established an internal independent company, AI CIC, to consolidate and expand its AI business, accelerating AI innovation. The company plans to invest KRW5 trillion (US$3.5 billion) over the next five years, aiming for AI revenue of KRW5 trillion by 2030.

The AI glasses jointly launched by Meta and Ray-Ban have been selling well. With strong promotion from other major brands such as Google and Samsung Electronics, AI glasses are now seen as one of the potential next mainstream mobile device products. Supported by edge computing, generative AI (GenAI), and AR/VR technologies, AI glasses are expected to redefine the way humans interact with mobile devices, bringing new changes to smartphone hardware design.

At Xiaomi's 2025 annual conference, founder Lei Jun spoke with calm restraint about the company's self-developed Xring O1 chip. Yet beneath that composure were moments of risk and suspense: the US$20 million bill for the first TSMC 3nm tape-out, engineers guarding chip samples in an unmarked paper bag at the airport, and the late-night message, "system lit up." When Lei answered his first call powered by the Xring O1, the wave of emotion was indescribable, the kind only insiders could fully understand.