The DIGITIMES Tech Forum 2026 opened on December 3, with DIGITIMES senior analyst Benson Wu saying that the lack of breakthrough 5G applications has made operators cautious about next-generation infrastructure investment, yet Agentic AI services may become the catalyst that re-energises 6G development and drives new demand for future communications networks.
At the DIGITIMES Tech Forum 2026, DIGITIMES senior analyst Luke Lin said the smartphone market, previously expected to rebound in 2026, is now projected to contract after a sharp jump in memory prices pushed supply-chain costs higher. Global smartphone shipment growth has been revised to negative 1.6%, with total volumes estimated at about 1.202 billion units.
India's government has decided not to make the pre-installation of its cybersecurity and safety app, Sanchar Saathi, mandatory on smartphones, following strong public uptake and pushback from the tech industry. The decision comes after the app saw a tenfold surge in downloads in a single day, reflecting growing citizen engagement with its features.
Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) officially established its Malaysia subsidiary, Chunghwa Telecom Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., on December 1. CHT chairman Chih-Cheng Chien said during a digital empowerment conference on December 2 that the latest move in Malaysia follows Taiwanese supply chain expansion and focuses on ICT and cloud network demands from local Taiwanese businesses and multinational corporations.
DIGITIMES' Tech Forum took place on December 3, 2025, with Quanta vice chairman C.C. Leung fully participating and closely following the pulse of the technology industry, particularly developments in the smart glasses sector.
Kyocera has abandoned its bid to enter the 5G base-station market, shelving a plan it once hoped would help Japan reclaim a foothold in critical communications infrastructure. The company had previously announced a target of commercial deployment by 2027, but ultimately concluded that global competition is too fierce to ensure a viable return.
AI glasses have become a new competitive front for global tech giants. Since 2025, China's smart-glasses sector has accelerated into what analysts describe as a "hundred-model race," with Alibaba, Baidu, Xiaomi, Huawei, RayNeo, Meizu, Inmo, and others rapidly launching products.
Apple does not plan to comply with an Indian government directive requiring smartphone makers to preload a state-developed cyber safety app, Reuters reported, citing industry sources familiar with the company's position.
BizLink said on December 1 that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Shenzhen-based XFS Communications, aiming to expand its optical interconnect capabilities as demand for high-speed links in AI data centers accelerates. The company expects the deal to close in the first quarter of 2026, after which XFS will be folded into BizLink's High Performance Computing Business Unit.
Vivo has introduced its iQOO sub-brand to Taiwan with the launch of the iQOO 15, marking the brand's first official entry into the market. The company aims to use iQOO's gaming-centric identity to strengthen its overall smartphone momentum in Taiwan's competitive midrange segment.
Samsung Electronics announced its first triple-folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, on December 2, 2025, marking the company's latest attempt to expand its foldable portfolio and differentiate its high-end devices in the AI-driven mobile market.
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