ARM says New Chip Architecture Not Subject to US Trade Rules
UK based ARM Holdings (9984.JP) has indicated that its new ARM V9 Chip architecture does not fall under US export regulations, allowing it to license the technology to Huawei, who has been severely affected by the US regulations, particularly in reference to semiconductor process. ARM says it completed an extensive review of the US restrictions and the architecture, which is said to contain the most innovations that the company has made to its design in 10 years, and will now be able to license the technology without restrictions.
This will allow Huawei’s HiSilicon (pvt) fabless unit to use the new architecture in its Kirin chipsets that are used in its high-end smartphones. Depending on the design however, as HiSilicon must depend on foundries to produce the chips, those foundries must also be convinced that they are not violating US trade rules, unless they are based in China. As Chinese semiconductor fabs have yet to produce at 5nm, it might still be difficult for Huawei to get non-Mainland fabs to allocate 5nm resources, but it at least sets the stage for the possibility that Huawei might be able to regain some of its former stature in the smartphone business.
This will allow Huawei’s HiSilicon (pvt) fabless unit to use the new architecture in its Kirin chipsets that are used in its high-end smartphones. Depending on the design however, as HiSilicon must depend on foundries to produce the chips, those foundries must also be convinced that they are not violating US trade rules, unless they are based in China. As Chinese semiconductor fabs have yet to produce at 5nm, it might still be difficult for Huawei to get non-Mainland fabs to allocate 5nm resources, but it at least sets the stage for the possibility that Huawei might be able to regain some of its former stature in the smartphone business.
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