At MWC 2026, Qualcomm outlined a strategy to pair advanced AI processing with next-generation wireless technologies, presenting new chips and systems intended to influence wearables, Wi‑Fi infrastructure, industrial automation, and early 6G experimentation. The company also formally launched its Wi‑Fi 8 solution.

Semiconductor industry insiders report that memory shortages and price surges have intensified alongside AI industry growth, pushing some memory prices into an “hourly pricing” model. This development spells a survival nightmare for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lacking bargaining power.

Samsung Electronics has reportedly brought forward the timeline for turning its foundry business profitable to 2026, accelerating an earlier target of 2027 and raising expectations that the long-struggling unit could soon become a new growth engine for the company’s semiconductor operations.

Keysight Technologies and MediaTek said they have jointly developed an AI-driven radio access network technology aimed at improving uplink performance and will debut a validated prototype at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026.

As the US–Iran war threatens to drive up global energy prices, concerns have been growing regarding Taiwan’s energy supply, which is highly reliant on imported liquified natural gas (LNG) for generating electricity. Taking into account shipping times from the Middle East, industry experts expect that real impacts on Taiwan’s oil and gas imports from the current conflict will begin after March 15. Oil and gas inventories are secure for now, as fuel already loaded and en route will ensure stable short-term supply.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has advanced legislation that would grant Congress the authority to review and block advanced chip sales to adversarial nations, mirroring the oversight typically reserved for arms deals. This move, alongside the proposed Chip Security Act, has sparked a sharp divide between national security hawks in Washington and semiconductor industry leaders regarding the future of American technological leadership and export control strategies.