China's next-generation short-range wireless connectivity technology, NearLink, is actively pushing into markets beyond the Huawei ecosystem. Securing support from major chip vendors such as MediaTek, STMicroelectronics (ST), and NXP will be critical as the International SparkLink Alliance works to encourage wider adoption among non-Huawei smartphone brands, according to alliance secretary-general Guosong Zeng.

Taiwan Mobile (TWM) said its buy now, pay later (BNPL) service is expanding beyond e-commerce checkout to travel, pet care, and other consumer scenarios, driven by the growth of atypical employment and rising demand for flexible payments. The service, branded "OP Pay," had 49.9% more cumulative users as of the end of September 2026 than at the end of September 2025.

Global smartphone shipments fell an estimated 14% year-over-year in the first three quarters of 2026, even as the number of new 5G smartphone models rose 18.4%, according to DIGITIMES Intelligence. The figures show a divergence between new model launches and actual shipment volumes.

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology was previously used mainly in military and aerospace applications, where costs were extremely high. Now, as high-frequency communications and non-terrestrial network (NTN) technologies gain momentum, new opportunities are opening up across the communications industry.

LG Innotek’s 2026 third-quarter revenue topped KRW6 trillion (approximately US$4.52 billion) for the first time, driven by new mobile-device launches and technology adoption. However, a sharp decline in the Korean won against the US dollar and weaker-than-expected overall performance cut operating profit by more than half.

Taiwanese IC design leaders MediaTek, Realtek, and Parade Technologies will hold their third-quarter 2026 earnings conferences in succession this week, offering the market an early read on conditions heading into late 2026 and early 2027. Parade will go first on October 28, followed by Realtek on October 29 and MediaTek on October 30.

Huawei Technologies has reshuffled its top leadership, appointing Consumer Business Group (BG) CEO Gang He to its 17-member board. The move follows the departure of former board member Vincent Peng, who left after more than 27 years with the company, where he most recently served as president of the Global Procurement Qualification Management Department. Huawei has since updated its executive directory on its official website, removing Peng's biography.

FarEasTone Telecommunications signed a cooperation agreement with Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite communications provider Elveo Mobile on October 27 to expand satellite-to-phone services in Taiwan. The partnership will integrate D2D capabilities with FarEasTone's existing terrestrial mobile network, supporting broader coverage, stronger communications resilience, and a future integrated space-and-ground network.

South Korean telecommunications provider SK Telecom (SKT) has reportedly established Hy-TF, a task force dedicated to AI collaboration with SK Hynix, to upgrade its digital-twin and data-platform businesses and develop new B2B services.

Fine M-Tec has rejected claims that components it supplied contributed to reported display damage in Apple's first foldable iPhone, saying the issue involves multiple components and precision mechanisms. The dispute could affect perceptions of the South Korean supplier even as analysts forecast growth from expanding foldable device demand ahead.

India's smartphone shipments fell 20% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching a decade low as higher memory costs pushed device prices up. The downturn highlights affordability pressures for consumers and could prompt manufacturers to raise prices, reshape portfolios, and rely on premium segments globally.