The possibility of Intel ending chopped and its semiconductor factories become part of TSMC production infrastructure It is on the table. As we explained two days ago, this producer of Taiwanese integrated circuits and the American chip designer Broadcom are interested in getting two fundamental parts of Intel. TSMC is preparing an offer that would allow you to control Intel integrated circuit manufacturing plants with the purpose of developing your manufacturing infrastructure Beyond Taiwan’s borders.
On the other hand, Broadcom is also preparing an offer to get the integrated circuit design and marketing divisions of Intel. In any case, if the TSMC initiative will finally prosper will stumble The opposition of the government led by Donald Trump. Currently it is unlikely that the administration approves the purchase of such an important division of an American company by a foreign company.
Discordant voices are being raised within Intel
Ben Sell, Vice President of Intel Technology Development, confirmed At the end of last September that the 18A node already has the maturity necessary to enter large -scale production in 2025. and also assured that it will benefit from the resources that have been reallocated since the 20A node. In the current scenario the 18A node will be the true protagonist. In fact, and this is really important, Intel has confirmed which will receive a maximum of 3,000 million dollars within the framework of the ‘Chips and Science Act’ program to manufacture semiconductors for the US government in a reliable way.
The 18A node is the best opportunity that Intel has to resume the course and improve its competitiveness
The name of this plan, “Safe Enclave”, reflects one of the requirements required by the Administration: Chips must occur in the strictest confidentiality. And, as we can intuit, these integrated circuits will be manufactured in the 18A node. Definitely this integration technology is the best opportunity that Intel has for resume course and improve your competitiveness. In fact, voices are being raised within the company itself that demand a little patience to give this node the opportunity to place Intel on the path of recovery.
This statement by Joseph Bonetti, main manager of Intel engineering programs, expresses this vision very well: “Intel leaders, Board of Directors of Intel and Donald Trump’s administration, please do not sell or give the control of Intel Foundry to TSMC just when Intel is taking the technological front and starting to take off. It would be a terrible and demoralizing error” . Bonetti also maintains that Intel is not lagging for its competitors, and that the advances that their engineers are achieving in the field of chips production are very important.
At the current situation there is no doubt that the 18A integration technology is the best Intel asset to recover health, but it is important that we do not overlook that its technicians have been calibrating more than a year and adjusting their first lithography equipment of extreme ultraviolet (UVE) and haute opening manufactured by ASML. Intel has them in its Hillsboro plant (USA). The first tests with this machine presumably carried out them at the end of 2024, and in 2025 the preliminary tests that pursue to manufacture circuits integrated in the 14A node will begin. It sounds exciting. We will follow the track to this machine very closely to keep you aware of all progress.
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