“Huawei kickstarting an all-Chinese semiconductor ecosystem”

Huawei is working with Chinese partners to set up an independent Chinese semiconductor supply chain, several media report based on a post from a Weibo blogger. The project is said to include the construction of a 45nm chip production line, progressing to 28nm technology at a later stage. The fab would use no US equipment and materials.

Huawei hasn’t confirmed the reports, but given the fact that its chip supply has essentially been strangled due to US sanctions, taking matters into its own hands may be the telecom firm’s only option. The obvious question is whether it can be competitive with semiconductor technology that’s several generations older than the leading edge.