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Jan 16, 08:00
Research Insight: Taiwanese network vendors face mounting cost pressures from memory shortages
The surge in artificial intelligence (AI) applications has pushed cloud service providers to increase capital expenditures on data centers, prompting major memory manufacturers to shift production towards high-margin, high-performance products such as HBM and DDR5. This strategic realignment has led to a sharp reduction in the supply of niche memory types, especially those used in network communication devices, exacerbating price hikes and supply shortages that are expected to impact Taiwanese vendors through the first half of 2026.
Taiwan's telecom market continued gradual growth in 2025 despite high penetration rates, with the top three operators—Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), Taiwan Mobile (TWM), and Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET)—all delivering better-than-expected financial results.
Global smartphone shipments increased by 2% year-over-year in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of growth, according to Counterpoint Research. The growth was driven by strong adoption of AI smartphones and rising demand for high-end and 5G devices in emerging markets.
Google is reportedly planning to move the New Product Introduction (NPI) process for its high-end Pixel smartphones to Vietnam, a step that could mark a major shift in the tech giant's supply chain strategy, though export controls from Beijing may slow implementation, according to Nikkei Asia.

Taiwanese prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for OnePlus founder and CEO Pete Lau, alleging the Chinese smartphone maker illegally recruited more than 70 engineers in Taiwan as authorities step up enforcement against unapproved hiring by mainland technology firms.

Motorola delivered strong smartphone sales in North America and Latin America in 2025, and looks to sustain momentum in 2026 by leveraging product innovation, AI integration, and cross-industry alliances. The company also plans to intensify operations across the Americas and Asia-Pacific markets.
Motorola announced three new smartphone models—edge 70, g57, and g86 Power—in Taiwan on January 12, highlighting a breakthrough in silicon-carbon (SiC) battery technology. The edge 70 features a 4,800mAh SiC battery that reduces its weight to 159g and thickness to just 5.99mm, making it the thinnest smartphone on the market equipped with three 50MP cameras.
Market sources say Xiaomi is expanding its in-house XRing chip lineup. Beyond developing the next-generation XRing O2 on TSMC's N3P process, the company also plans to extend these processors into "non-smartphone" products to further raise its level of self-reliance.
Memory price surges are reshaping the global smartphone market outlook for 2026, according to insiders at Sunny Optical. Significant order reductions from Chinese manufacturers amid soaring memory costs signal challenges ahead for the industry.
Despite ongoing US restrictions on Huawei's access to 5G smartphone chips and Google Mobile Services (GMS), the company has re-established a strong position in China by advancing its HarmonyOS ecosystem and pushing for semiconductor component breakthroughs. In 2025, Huawei briefly returned to the top of China's quarterly smartphone sales rankings and currently remains among the market's top three vendors by share.
Lenovo is aiming to double its business in India over the next three years, leveraging strong growth in its Motorola smartphone segment and its infrastructure and services verticals, according to company executives. Lenovo's Asia Pacific leadership highlighted domestic consumption and the "India for the world" strategy as central to the company's future expansion, with India emerging as one of Lenovo's fastest-growing markets worldwide, according to the Economic Times.

TCL has risen to second place worldwide in TV shipments, trailing only Samsung Electronics, as the Chinese electronics group leverages supply chain integration and display technology development to gain share in the global TV market.