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Feb 10
Samsung strengthens AI and supply chain resilience to counter smartphone market headwinds
Facing challenges from soaring memory prices, inflation, and geopolitical risks, the global smartphone demand is widely expected to decline by 2-3% in 2026. However, Samsung Electronics, as one of the world's largest memory suppliers, holds an advantage this year in securing mobile memory supply and controlling costs compared to competitors.
Globe Telecom stated that it will be the first operator in Southeast Asia to offer direct-to-cell satellite connectivity, becoming the second Asian carrier to collaborate with SpaceX on satellite data communications, following Japan's KDDI.
Inventory pressures across Taiwan's networking equipment supply chain are beginning to ease, offering early signs of a cyclical recovery. Several major manufacturers, including Accton Technology, WNC Corporation, Sercomm, and Arcadyan, have reported January 2026 revenue figures, with Accton and WNC both posting record highs for the month.

Samsung Electronics has set February 25, 2026, for its next Galaxy Unpacked event, returning to San Francisco to unveil what it describes as a "new phase" in mobile computing.

Taiwanese display driver IC (DDI) giant Novatek recently held an investor briefing, where Vice Chairman and General Manager Steve Wang said that memory supply and costs will be the most critical factors affecting various electronic products, especially smartphones and PCs, in 2026. Aside from traditional DDI products, Novatek has recently made progress in new areas such as system-on-chip (SoC), application-specific ICs (ASICs), imaging, and edge AI. The company plans to continue launching new products and expand into diverse applications.
Nokia has inaugurated a new research and development (R&D) facility for fixed networks in Tamil Nadu, marking the Finnish telecom equipment maker's largest such center globally and reinforcing its long-term commitment to India as a technology and engineering hub.
Texas Instruments (TI) recently announced that it will acquire IoT wireless connectivity specialist Silicon Labs for US$7.5 billion, with the deal expected to be completed in the first half of 2027. The announcement surprised the market, as it marks TI's largest acquisition since its purchase of National Semiconductor in 2011.
Qualcomm delivered record results in its fiscal first quarter, but executives warned that a worsening memory supply imbalance is now constraining the global smartphone market, even as underlying consumer demand remains strong.
China's smartphone market ended 2025 on a weaker note than expected, despite Apple's strong fourth-quarter earnings and the early success of the iPhone 17. December shipments fell sharply, dragging full-year volumes down and dimming hopes of a broader market rebound.
Sony has recently chosen to partner with TCL in managing its Bravia TV brand, reflecting the long-standing downturn of the Japanese vendor's television business. In Japan, once-dominant domestic TV brands have largely been replaced by rising Chinese competitors.
During MediaTek's earnings call on February 3, CEO Rick Tsai cautioned that smartphone demand is expected to encounter difficulties in 2026. Contrasting this outlook, Pegatron chairman Tzu Hsien Tung expressed a more optimistic view, highlighting the dominance of smartphones over the past 16 years and the potential for future growth driven by emerging markets.
Texas Instruments (TI) has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire chip designer Silicon Laboratories for approximately US$7.5 billion, marking the largest deal for TI since its US$6.5 billion purchase of National Semiconductor in 2011. The acquisition underscores TI's strategy to strengthen its presence in wireless connectivity chips for industrial, consumer, and smart-device applications.