Blog: How is chip shortage affecting US? - Mobile World Live
25 MAY 2021
The US wireless industry is experiencing the impact of a global semiconductor shortage expected to last throughout 2021, with associated impacts on product launches, profitability and network upgrades.
Qualcomm discussed the chip shortage when announcing its newest Snapdragon chipset at its 5G Summit. On a media call ahead of the launch, the company said it accelerated the release of the Snapdragon 778G 5G due to the paucity, suggesting a concern supplies may get even tighter.
The launch came two months after Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 780G. The company said without the pressure of the chip shortage, it would not have launched two products in such rapid succession, but strong demand justified the decision. It is using separate foundries to make the two chipsets in an effort to minimise the impact of shortages: TSMC is making the 778G and Samsung is reportedly producing the 780G.