Intel and ARM Enter "Multigeneration" Agreement to Optimize Chip Fabrication Process
On Wednesday, Intel and ARM announced a partnership to optimize Intel's upcoming 18A fabrication process for use with ARM designs and intellectual property. The two companies, who are among the most influential players in the chipmaking industry, plan to focus initially on mobile system-on-a-chip designs. This partnership has the potential to extend to the creation of silicon designed for use in cars, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and data centers.
This agreement is not intended to see Intel's Foundry Services division produce chipsets for ARM but rather to make it easier for ARM licensees, such as Qualcomm and MediaTek, to hire Intel to make chips in the future. Intel will offer ARM licensees support beyond wafer production to include "packaging, software, and chiplets," providing a one-stop-shop for companies that want Intel to produce their ARM designs.
Intel also highlighted the geopolitical significance of the partnership, stating that "this collaboration will enable a more balanced global supply chain for foundry customers working in mobile SoC design on Arm-based CPU cores." According to an estimate by Counterpoint Research from July 2022, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) produces almost 70% of all chipsets critical to modern smartphones. The recent three-day military exercise by China, which included the encirclement of Taiwan, has heightened fears of an impending war on the island.
The Intel and ARM "multigeneration" agreement marks a significant development in the world of chipmaking. By optimizing Intel's upcoming fabrication process for use with ARM designs, the companies are enabling a more balanced global supply chain while providing support for ARM licensees beyond wafer production. The partnership has the potential to revolutionize the industry, with future applications extending beyond mobile SoC designs to other sectors, such as IoT devices, cars, and data centers.
