5. Nvidia makes semi No.3 slot
In 2023, Intel took the No.1 slot while the memory slump pushed Samsung to No.2 and the AI boom raised Nvidia to No.3, says Counterpoint Research. It was a year when revenues fell 8.8% y-o-y and only six of top 20 semiconductor vendors showed y-on-y growth. Memory revenue was down 43% y-o-y. The top 20 global semiconductor vendors contributed to 71% of the market, down from 76% in 2022 and showing a 14% y-o-y revenue decline.
4. Russia buying advanced US-made and EU-made ICs
Russia is getting advanced ICs made in the US and the EU according to Bloomberg which has seen classified Russian customs data. Manufacturers included Intel, AMD, ADI, Infineon, ST, and NXP. The customs data showed that Russia imported $1.7 billion worth of chips in the first nine months of last year of which $1.2 billion worth was made by a total of 20 large companies. The companies say they comply with all the restrictions on doing business with Russia and the chips are thought arriving via re-exports from countries including China, Turkey and UAE.
3. AT&T, Google and Vodafone back AST’s space-based 5G connectivity
AST SpaceMobile, which aims to build a space-based cellular broadband network accessible by everyday smartphones, has announced strategic investment from AT&T, Google and Vodafone. The goal is for its in-orbit technology to eliminate cellular connectivity gaps around the world. In addition to the $155 million invested by the companies, AST SpaceMobile plans to draw up to $51.5 million from the company’s existing senior-secured credit facility, it said. Beams will support capacity of up to 40 Mhz, enabling data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps.
2. SIA forecasts 13% growth this year
Semiconductor sales of $526.8 billion last year were 8.2% down on 2022’s record-breaking total of $574.1 billion, says the SIA, which forecast a sales rise of 13% this year to almost $600 billion. Q4 sales of $146 billion were up 11.6% y-o-y and 8.4% m-o-m. “Global semiconductor sales were sluggish early in 2023 but rebounded strongly during the second half of the year, and double-digit market growth is projected for 2024,” says SIA CEO John Neuffer.
1. Weller application-specific soldering kits
RS is stocking five kits of hand soldering and re-work components aimed at different applications, such as micro-soldering and de-soldering larger components.They collect together units selected from Weller’s WXsmart soldering component range. All the kit part numbers are of the form T005345x699, and all of the kits include get Weller’s ‘WXsmart Station’ controller, a soldering iron, a stand for the iron and a bit holder. In the case of kit T0053455699, the iron has a large bit aimed at what RS calls ‘heavy-duty soldering’…
