Technology

US Strikes at a Huawei Prize: Chip Juggernaut HiSilicon

Published

4 years ago

May 22, 2020

The latest US government action against China’s Huawei takes direct aim at the company’s HiSilicon chip division–a business that in a few short years has become central to China’s ambitions in semiconductor technology but will now lose access to tools that are central to its success.

That could make it the most damaging US attack yet against a Chinese company that US officials told reporters Wednesday functioned as a “tool of strategic influence” for the Chinese Communist Party. Huawei Technologies for its part denounced the US allegations and called the new measures “arbitrary and pernicious.”

Established in 2004, HiSilicon develops chips mostly for Huawei, and for most of its existence has been an afterthought in a global chip business dominated by US, Korean, and Japanese companies. Like most electronics firms, Huawei relied on others for the chips that powered its equipment.

But heavy investment in research and development helped drive rapid progress at HiSilicon, and in recent years the 7,000-employee unit has been central to Huawei’s rise as a dominant player in the global smartphone business and the emerging 5G telecom networking business.

HiSilicon’s Kirin smartphone processor is now considered to be on par with those created by Apple and Qualcomm –a rare example of an advanced Chinese semiconductor product that competes globally.

HiSilicon is also central to Huawei’s leadership in 5G, stepping into the breach when the United States cut off access to some US chips last year.

In March, Huawei revealed that 8 percent of the 50,000 5G base stations it sold in 2019 came with no US technology, using HiSilicon chipsets instead.

But the US export control rule, reported last week, aims to block HiSilicon’s access to two crucial tools: chip design software from US firms including Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys, and the manufacturing prowess of “foundries,” led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), that build chips for many of the world’s top semiconductor firms.

With the new restrictions，HiSilicon “will be in a situation where they’re not able to manufacture chips at all, or if they do, then they’re not leading edge anymore,” says Stewart Randall, who tracks China’s chip industry at Shanghai-based consultancy Intralink.

Without its own processors, Huawei will lose its edge over domestic smartphone rivals, analysts said. International sales had already been hurt by a ban on the use of key Google software.

Industry sources say Huawei has stockpiled chips, and the new US rule will not go into full force for 120 days. US officials also note that licenses could be granted for some technologies. HiSilicon can also keep using design software it has already acquired.

HISilicon in tough spot
Still, analysts agree HiSilicon is in a tough spot. Nearly all chip factories globally — including China’s leading foundry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International — buy gear from the same equipment makers, led by U.S. firms Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA.

The new US rule requires licenses for companies using US machinery to build Huawei-designed chips and delivered to the Chinese firm. To be sure, the new rule will not catch items shipped to a third party, allowing HiSilicon’s fabricators like TSMC the ability to ship chips to HiSilicon’s device manufacturers who can send them directly to a customer.

While there are alternatives to American machines – Japan’s Tokyo Electron, for example, makes gear that competes with Applied Materials – replacing US technology is not as simple as swapping out a machine.

“You almost have to think about it like a heart transplant,” said VLSI Research Chief Executive Dan Hutcheson, noting that chip production lines are finely calibrated systems where everything has to work well together.

Doug Fuller of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said Huawei had a few options. It could slip around the rule by having suppliers ship directly to Huawei customers, though the US officials said they would be vigilant about such workarounds.

Huawei and the Chinese government could re-double efforts to build production capabilities that did not require US tools, by investing in nascent Chinese competitors and buying from Japanese and Korean firms, even if that required quality sacrifices.

Or Huawei could turn away from HiSilicon and revert to buying from overseas suppliers — just not American ones. “There’s talk of Huawei just turning to Samsung processors,” for its smartphone, said Fuller.

© Thomson Reuters 2021

(Note: This is a Article Automatically Generated Through Syndication, Here is The Original Source

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Technology

Samsung develops the fastest DRAM chip for AI applications in the industry

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

IANS

Samsung develops industry's fastest DRAM chip for AI applications

In a groundbreaking development, Samsung has announced the creation of the industry’s first low-power double data rate 5X (LPDDR5X) DRAM chip for AI applications. The new chip boasts high performance of up to 10.7 Gbps, marking a significant improvement in both speed and capacity compared to previous models.

Low-power, high-performance LPDDR chips are becoming increasingly important in the on-device AI market. Samsung’s latest LPDDR5X products, developed with 12 nanometer-class process technology, are the smallest in size among existing LPDDR chips, further cementing the company’s position as a leader in the low-power DRAM sector.

A company spokesperson stated, “Samsung will continue to innovate and deliver optimized products for the upcoming on-device AI era through close collaboration with customers.” Mass production of the LPDDR5X is set to commence in the second half of the year, pending verification by mobile application processor and device providers.

The unveiling of Samsung’s LPDDR5X DRAM chip represents a significant step forward in the field of AI technology. The chip’s impressive performance and capacity enhancements are expected to further drive the adoption of on-device AI solutions in various industries. This groundbreaking innovation is sure to set a new standard for memory solutions tailored for AI applications.

Technology

PM Modi expresses strong interest in Zoho’s rural development model: Sridhar Vembu

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

IANS

PM Modi showed keen interest in our model of rural development: Zoho's Sridhar Vembu

New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) – Zoho Founder and CEO, Sridhar Vembu, revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed interest in Zoho’s rural development model in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu during his recent meeting. PM Modi praised the company’s efforts in creating high-tech capabilities and jobs in rural areas.

During an election rally in Ambasamudram, PM Modi met Vembu to discuss Zoho’s rural development through R&D model. Vembu expressed gratitude towards PM Modi for taking the time to understand and appreciate the company’s operations in Tenkasi as a model of rural development.

“PM Modi came to Ambasamudram which is close to my village. Even in the middle of his hectic campaign schedule, he gave me time to meet him and brief him on our rural development through R&D model and on creating high-tech capability and jobs in rural areas,” Vembu shared on social media.

Vembu highlighted that PM Modi showed keen interest in Zoho’s Tenkasi operations. He praised the Prime Minister’s leadership and expressed his support for his continued health and service to the nation. Zoho, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Chennai, employs over 15,000 individuals globally.

During his rally in Ambasamudram, PM Modi criticized the DMK in Tamil Nadu, alleging that they conspired with the Congress to hand over the Katchatheevu island to a foreign nation. PM Modi emphasized his commitment to developing a ‘Viksit Tamil Nadu’ along with a ‘Viksit Bharat’ for overall progress.

The interaction between PM Modi and Zoho’s CEO highlights the government’s interest in innovative rural development models like the one implemented by Zoho in Tenkasi district. The meeting signifies a recognition of the potential for high-tech job creation in rural areas leading to localized economic growth and development.

Technology

MediBuddy Healthcare Platform Reaches Break-Even Point in Fiscal Year 2024

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

IANS

Healthcare platform MediBuddy achieves break-even in FY24

New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) Digital healthcare platform MediBuddy has announced that it has reached break-even with a marginal loss in the previous fiscal year, moving towards EBITDA neutrality. The company has seen a significant increase in its user base by 2.4 times over the last three years, serving close to 3 crore people with over 1 crore subscribers.

According to Satish Kannan, Co-founder and CEO of MediBuddy, “By leveraging technology, our platform enhances doctor-patient interactions, fueling remarkable growth and expanding healthcare access nationwide.” The company is now focusing on exploring mergers and acquisitions opportunities in key healthcare areas such as chronic disease management, mental health, diabetes, women’s care, and weight management, supported by an $18 million capital pool.

MediBuddy has a network of over 90,000 doctors across more than 22 specialities, and works with over 7,100 hospitals and clinics. The company has also onboarded over 10,000 hospitals and diagnostic centers for all radiology and pathology investigations. Kannan stated, “We empower doctors through our platform, offering accessible care via video consultations, hospital visits, clinics, pharmacy deliveries, and diagnostic services.”

The company’s commitment to innovation and technology has led to its break-even milestone, as it continues to focus on providing quality healthcare services to its growing user base. MediBuddy’s emphasis on enhancing doctor-patient interactions and expanding healthcare access has contributed to its success in achieving break-even status in the previous fiscal year.