半导体行业观察·2025-11-18 01:40Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing challenges and dynamics in the RAN (Radio Access Network) chip market, highlighting the reliance on a few major suppliers and the implications of geopolitical factors on market competition [2][3]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The RAN chip market is dominated by a few players, specifically Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung, which limits competition for telecom operators [3]. - The revenue for RAN products was approximately $45 billion in 2022, projected to decline to $35 billion by 2024, indicating a shrinking market [3]. - The introduction of Open RAN has not significantly increased chip diversity, leading to a reliance on a limited number of manufacturers [3]. Group 2: Technological Shifts - Virtual RAN (vRAN) is gaining traction, with its share expected to double from 10% in 2023 to over 20% by 2028, potentially impacting the custom chip market [5]. - Ericsson continues to invest heavily in ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) development, but the shift towards vRAN may affect the returns on this investment [6][7]. - Samsung is rapidly moving towards vRAN solutions, with its products showing improved performance and reduced costs compared to traditional RAN [7]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Intel remains a key partner for both Ericsson and Samsung, while Nokia relies on Marvell for its RAN products [3][7]. - AMD is positioned as a potential alternative to Intel, with its financial performance significantly better than Intel's, but challenges remain regarding hardware integration [9]. - Nvidia's recent investment in Nokia indicates a strategic move to support RAN software development, although there are concerns about the cost and energy efficiency of Nvidia's GPUs [12][13].