Huawei plans to begin mass-producing its Ascend 910C AI chip in early 2025, despite ongoing struggles to achieve sufficient production yields due to US trade restrictions. The Chinese telecom giant has already sent samples to tech firms and started taking orders for the chip, designed to rival Nvidia’s high-performance processors. The company faces significant challenges, as restrictions on advanced manufacturing technologies have limited its chip-making efficiency.
The Ascend 910C is produced by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) using an N+2 process but suffers from a yield of just 20%—far below the 70% required for commercial viability. Previous Huawei processors, including the 910B, achieved yields of around 50%, leading to delays in fulfilling orders from major clients like ByteDance. Washington’s restrictions, which prevent access to critical Dutch lithography equipment, have further constrained China’s ability to produce advanced semiconductors.
Huawei’s reliance on SMIC has been costly, with chips produced on its advanced nodes priced up to 50% higher than alternatives. While the company has sought supplemental production from Taiwan’s TSMC, US authorities have tightened export controls, limiting access to cutting-edge chips and forcing Huawei to prioritise strategic government and corporate orders. The escalating trade tensions underscore the geopolitical struggle between the US and China over technological dominance, with both nations doubling down on policies to secure their interests.
As Beijing pushes for self-reliance in semiconductors, Huawei’s production challenges reflect the broader impact of US restrictions on China’s tech sector. With further curbs on the horizon, Huawei’s success in advancing its AI chips may shape the next phase of the US -China tech rivalry.
Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House is viewed as a positive development for India‘s IT services sector, according to Wipro Executive Chairman Rishad Premji. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Premji noted that Trump’s ‘pro-business and pro-growth’ policies, including lower taxes and fewer regulations, could encourage greater spending by corporate clients. This comes after challenging quarters for Indian IT firms, with clients cutting back on discretionary projects due to global economic uncertainty.
Premji also highlighted the need for caution regarding inflation, tariffs, and potential changes in United States immigration policies, particularly H-1B visas, which are crucial for Indian IT workers. The US account for a significant portion of the sector’s revenue. Stricter outsourcing rules could pose challenges, but analysts remain optimistic about overall growth.
JPMorgan analysts echoed this sentiment, stating that extended US corporate tax benefits could boost technology spending, further benefiting Indian IT companies. The sector will monitor Trump’s policies closely for long-term impact.
California-based AI startup Enfabrica has raised $115M in a funding round to tackle one of the field’s most pressing challenges, enabling vast networks of AI chips to work seamlessly at scale. The company, founded by former engineers from Broadcom and Alphabet, plans to release its new networking chip early next year. This chip aims to enhance efficiency by addressing bottlenecks in how AI computing chips interact with networks, a problem that slows down data processing and wastes resources.
The startup claims its technology can scale AI networks to connect up to 500,000 chips, significantly surpassing the current limit of around 100,000. This breakthrough could speed up the training of larger AI models, reducing time and costs associated with unreliable or inaccurate outcomes. “The attributes of the network, like bandwidth and resiliency, are critical for scaling AI efficiently,” said Enfabrica CEO Rochan Sankar.
Investors in the funding round included Spark Capital, Maverick Silicon, and corporate backers like Arm Holdings and Samsung Ventures. Nvidia, an industry leader in AI chips, also participated, signaling strong support for Enfabrica’s mission to optimise AI infrastructure.
Silicon Valley firm d-Matrix has launched its first AI chip, designed to enhance AI services like chatbots and video generators. Early samples are being tested by customers, with full-scale shipments expected next year.
The chip focuses on inference tasks, allowing multiple users to interact simultaneously with AI systems, such as generating or modifying videos. d-Matrix’s innovation aims to complement market leaders like Nvidia by specialising in real-time user requests.
Backed by over $160 million in funding, including from Microsoft‘s venture arm, the company has partnered with Super Micro Computer to offer servers equipped with its chips. CEO Sid Sheth highlights strong demand in video applications for multi-user interactions.
Kenya and Malaysia partnered to accelerate digital transformation in Kenya and across Africa, thereby highlighting a shared commitment to leveraging technology for economic growth and development. The collaboration aims to enhance Kenya’s digital infrastructure, foster bilateral trade, and unlock new digital export opportunities.
By combining Kenya’s rapidly growing tech industry with Malaysia’s advanced expertise, the partnership allows Kenyan enterprises to access cutting-edge technological knowledge while enabling Malaysian firms to tap into Africa’s expanding markets. Moreover, the Malaysia-Kenya Tech symposium in Nairobi, organised by the Kenyan government, Malaysia’s High Commission, and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, serves as a platform to showcase these efforts.
Thus, the partnership emphasises mutual efforts to strengthen economic ties, create innovative digital ecosystems, and position Kenya as a regional technology hub. In addition, the partnership builds on earlier engagements, emphasising its importance in fostering innovation, boosting digital integration, and driving economic growth. By visiting key sites like Konza Technopolis, the Malaysian delegation has explored opportunities to position Kenya as a digital leader in Africa while strengthening ties between the two regions.
Ghana Communication Technology University and Microsoft Skills have partnered to introduce the Microsoft Skills for Jobs Microdegree Programme in Ghana, aimed at enhancing digital skills in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, AI, and coding. That collaboration, funded by the European Union, will provide training, certification, and job placement opportunities, helping students and professionals gain the essential skills needed in today’s digital economy.
To make the programme more accessible, local banks will offer micro-loans, allowing participants to pay fees in manageable instalments. The initiative is expected to certify 286,000 students globally by 2026, with 60,000 certifications coming from Ghana, creating significant opportunities for local students in the global job market.
Ghana Communication Technology University and Microsoft Skills have also partnered to foster international collaboration through student exchange programs. The partnership will also connect Ghanaian graduates to job opportunities with 32,000 IT companies across Europe, further expanding their career prospects and establishing GCTU as a leader in IT education in Ghana.
Vietnam and Burundi have partnered to strengthen their telecommunications and technology development collaboration. The agreement, signed on 19 November, was attended by key officials from both countries.
Notably, Vietnam’s telecom provider, Lumitel, has significantly contributed to Burundi’s market, paying over $500 million in taxes and securing a dominant market share. Given the shared challenges of war, sanctions, and poverty faced by both nations, it was emphasised that digital technology could address issues such as rural-urban wealth gaps and limited public services.
In light of this, Vietnam encouraged further investment in Burundi, particularly beyond telecommunications, and proposed increased exchanges in ICT, digital economy, and workforce training to accelerate Burundi’s digital transformation. Furthermore, scholarships and short-term online training programs were announced to support the development of Burundi’s digital workforce.
In response, Burundi’s government expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s expertise, particularly in telecommunications, and praised Lumitel for its significant role in improving the local market. Burundi also invited Lumitel to expand its operations, with assurances of government support to ensure favourable business conditions.
Moreover, platforms such as Vietnam International Digital Week were acknowledged, as they foster global digital partnerships and facilitate the exchange of technological experiences. Finally, Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lumitel’s growth and emphasised that Vietnamese enterprises must comply with local laws and tax obligations while operating abroad.
Africa’s largest mobile operator, MTN, is exploring partnerships with low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite providers to improve internet access in rural and remote areas, CEO Ralph Mupita announced on Monday. Satellite-based internet, increasingly popular in Africa through providers like Elon Musk’s Starlink, offers high-speed connectivity where traditional infrastructure is costly or impractical.
MTN is conducting trials with several LEO satellite operators and considering becoming a reseller for enterprise customers in specific regions. Competitors like Vodacom and Cell C are also embracing LEO partnerships, with Vodacom teaming up with Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
Mupita emphasised the need for regulatory fairness, calling for satellite providers to meet the same requirements as terrestrial operators, such as compliance with data privacy and spectrum access rules. While Starlink is operational in parts of Africa, regulatory hurdles remain in countries like South Africa, where a clear framework for satellite internet is still being developed.
South Korean Naver Corporation has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company to establish a joint venture focused on digital twin platform projects in the Middle East. Digital twin technology, which creates virtual replicas of real-world environments, will be central to the collaboration, enabling advanced urban planning, real-time monitoring, disaster prediction, and smart city development.
The venture will develop city monitoring platforms and mapping applications to enhance public administration and services. That initiative builds on Naver’s previous success in implementing digital twin platforms for Riyadh and four other Saudi cities, solidifying its position as a leader in smart city innovation.
The partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national initiative to drive digital transformation and sustainable development. By integrating advanced technologies into urban planning and public administration, the joint venture aims to support the creation of efficient, modern cities, furthering technological and economic progress in the region.
Governments across Africa should increase the protection of fibre optic cables from theft and vandalism, while also aligning regulations to boost tech infrastructure development, according to a Google executive. Charles Murito, Google’s head of government relations and public policy in Africa, emphasised the need to classify fibre cables as critical infrastructure, which would ensure severe consequences for those who damage them. Theft and vandalism targeting batteries, generators, and cables have driven up costs for infrastructure providers.
Murito, speaking at the Africa Tech conference, highlighted Google’s investments in subsea cables, including Equiano, connecting Africa with Europe, and the upcoming Umoja cable linking Africa and Australia. He stressed that better protections and regulatory harmonisation could make the continent more appealing to tech investors. Industry leaders agree that such measures are essential to encouraging business expansion in Africa.
Additionally, Murito has called for more infrastructure sharing among internet service providers to reduce data costs. The diverse regulations across African nations concerning permissions for cable installations hinder the expansion of fibre networks. Although South Africa‘s authorities have acknowledged the issue, urging law enforcement to act and proposing legal updates, fibre optic cables have yet to receive a new critical classification.
