Samsung is rolling out its Galaxy S25 FE smartphone and Galaxy Tab S11 tablets a month early, unveiling the devices at the IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin. The move is aimed at filling a gap in its lineup ahead of the launch of its new tri-fold phones later this year.
South Korean telecom giant SK Telecom (SKT) is doubling down on its artificial intelligence (AI) investments in the wake of a major hacking incident. The company has officially begun construction of a large-scale AI data center in Ulsan, South Korea, which will become the country's largest dedicated AI facility outside the capital region.
Taiwan's bid to challenge global telecom incumbents with 5G Open RAN (O-RAN) is faltering, as network outages in automated factories undermine trust and local vendors struggle to monetize investments. Once championed as a bridge for Taiwan's IT sector to break into communications technology and loosen the grip of Nokia, Ericsson, and Siemens, O-RAN's commercial promise is now in doubt. Industry leaders and analysts see the emerging concept of AI-RAN as the sector's potential reset.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is developing a continuous zoom camera module that maintains image clarity across varying telephoto magnifications, reportedly aiming to meet demands from Chinese smartphone manufacturers. Unlike fixed focal length folded zooms, this technology allows smooth optical zoom but poses challenges in module thickness and lens alignment.
Washington's reciprocal tariffs announced in April have disrupted global trade flows and economic momentum, putting the smartphone industry directly at risk. Forecasts for annual handset demand have been cut, and debate is mounting over whether 2025 will swing from growth back into contraction.
Apple's 2025 fall product launch event is confirmed for September 10 at 1 a.m. Taiwan time. Market rumors suggest significant upgrades across Apple's hardware lineup, raising high expectations for the new features and subsequent sales performance of the iPhone 17.
For Apple CEO Tim Cook, returning to the White House in early August 2025 and announcing a US$600 billion investment plan over the next four years was a strategic move that pleased President Donald Trump. Trump responded by stating that any production or factory commitments made in the US would qualify for tariff exemptions, temporarily easing Apple's larger crisis.
Samsung Electronics announced plans for a Galaxy product launch event on September 4, where the company will introduce a new tablet alongside the Galaxy S25 FE smartphone. This addition marks the expansion of Samsung's flagship S25 series to five models, making it the largest lineup in the series' history and highlighting a strategic shift in the company's approach to the smartphone market.
A submarine cable disruption was been reported near Taiwan on the afternoon of September 1. According to the Taiwan Submarine Cable Map, the East Asia Crossing 2 (EAC2) submarine cable toward Southeast Asia experienced a break, affecting international data transmission between Taiwan and Singapore. In response, Taiwan's largest telecommunications service provider Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) clarified that it is not invested in EAC2, adding its self-operated international and domestic submarine cables are currently functioning normally.
As 3GPP establishes Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) as a key focus in standard evolution, NTN has become the next critical battleground in the communications industry. Nokia recently unveiled its three-phase NTN development roadmap spanning LTE, 5G, and 6G, targeting the satellite communications market in a comprehensive campaign.
Smartphone manufacturers have reduced the number of camera lenses to make devices thinner, focusing on performance and image correction instead. This trend has led suppliers like LG Innotek to pivot toward high-resolution sensors and automotive camera modules.
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