In an exciting development in the world of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), Chinese companies are making significant strides. Recently, a domestic manufacturer announced that they’ve begun experimental production of HBM2, marking another step forward for China’s growing presence in this sector.
China is fully charging ahead in the AI technology race, driven by the realization that this advancement carries substantial national security implications. Despite facing hurdles such as the sanctions imposed by the Biden administration, the country has seen numerous local manufacturers stepping up with innovative AI solutions. Huawei is a standout among these innovators, showcasing China’s resilience on the global stage. According to a report by Nikkei, Tongfu Microelectronics is leading this charge by initiating trial production of HBM2, a notable achievement for the Chinese tech industry.
Importantly, Tongfu isn’t alone in this venture. Companies like CXMT and Wuhan Xinxin are also reporting impressive advancements in both DRAM and HBM sectors over recent months. While Tongfu Microelectronics might be a new name to some, it’s already well-known as a partner of AMD, and the reputation is bolstered by AMD holding a stake in the company.
In the tech landscape, Tongfu has established itself as the third-largest provider globally for semiconductor packaging and test services. However, their foray into the HBM domain is relatively new. It’s likely they’re combining third-party memory components with their expertise to produce the HBM2 dies.
There’s an interesting twist here—Tongfu is reportedly supplying Huawei with AI processor components. However, it’s unclear if their HBM production is being directly integrated into these products yet. While HBM2 might be a couple of generations behind the current leaders focusing on HBM4, this progress is significant for China. Despite the pressures of international sanctions, China’s tech sector is advancing swiftly. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them matching global industry standards soon, and the recent DeepSeek AI incident highlights the nation’s growing capabilities in this field.
