The tech industry has recently revealed that to ensure the supply of key components for smartphones, particularly surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, Ziguang has been working closely with its subsidiaries Spreadtrum and RDA to find a reliable SAW partner. The company is now exploring potential collaboration with Taijiashuo (3221), aiming to stabilize the material supply chain through shared packaging capacity. If this partnership moves forward, it could significantly enhance component availability in the market.
This approach echoes past strategies. For instance, during the 2G era, Ziguang adopted a similar method by partnering with Han Tianxia Electronics, a mainland PA supplier, to ensure that power amplifiers (PA) were available alongside Spreadtrum’s 2G chips. Whether this model will be replicated between Spreadtrum and Taijiashuo remains to be seen, but it signals a growing trend toward strategic alliances in the semiconductor sector.
With the rise of 4G smartphones, the number of frequency bands has increased dramatically. Last year alone, devices featured up to five modes, 12 bands, 13 frequencies, and even 17 frequencies. This surge has led to a significant increase in the use of RF components such as SAW filters and power amplifiers (PA). However, most of these components are supplied by a small group of global manufacturers—Murata, Skyworks, Avago, and TDK’s Epcos. These companies have struggled to keep up with the rising demand, making SAW and PA components among the most vulnerable to shortages in recent years.
As demand for 4G smartphones continues to grow in mainland China and emerging markets, Qualcomm, the leading mobile chipmaker, has announced a joint venture with TDK to invest in RF components like SAW. This move aims to prevent supply disruptions and ensure smooth chip shipments this year. The shortage of SAW components highlights the critical role of main wafer factories in securing peripheral components.
In the 3G market last year, the exhibition was not as successful, but this year, the focus is clearly on 4G. Last week, under the guidance of the Purple Light team, Ziguang's RDA unit traveled to Taiwan to search for the right SAW supplier. At the end of last year, Taijiashuo, a member of the Korean SAW manufacturer Sawnics, also participated in a meeting, and both parties agreed to conduct further discussions after the Lunar New Year.
According to sources within the smartphone chip supply chain, Ziguang Group's strategy involves Spreadtrum as the main chip provider and RDA as a WiFi chip supplier. In terms of product applications, SAW and PA components are integrated into RF front-end modules (FEM). By incorporating these components onto the Spreadtrum platform, Ziguang aims to avoid future shortages when shipping 4G chips.
[Reporter: Xie Jiawen / Taipei Report] RF components like PA and SAW are essential to modern smartphones. Beyond market demand and customer orders, ensuring that main chip shipments are not affected by peripheral component shortages is a major challenge for chip manufacturers. To address this, partnerships and shared packaging capacity have emerged as viable solutions. As the industry evolves, these collaborative models may become more common in securing stable supply chains.
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