TSMC says 10nm on track, countering reports

Reports of low yields suggested Apple could face iPad delays, but TSMC says those reports are false.

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg Co. or TSMC says that 10nm is on schedule, countering news media reports that the yields of TSMC and Samsung at the industry's most advanced technology node are lagging expectations.

TSMC's 10nm process is "totally on track" and will contribute to sales revenue for the first time in the first quarter of 2017, according to Elizabeth Sun, senior director, TSMC's corporate communications, refuting a report by Taiwan's Digitimes website that was picked up by other news media. The company's 10nm process will account for less than 1 percent of TSMC's overall revenue during the first quarter of 2017, she said.

Intel, Samsung and TSMC have been vying to be first with 10nm SoCs and capture profits from foundry customers such as Apple and Qualcomm. In November, Qualcomm announced it is in production with its next-generation mobile SoC, the Snapdragon 835, in Samsung's 10nm process. Intel, earlier in 2016, said that its 10nm process could outperform other foundries and will be used to make ARM-based mobile chips for companies, including LG Electronics.

To read the full article, go to EETimes.