Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), China's national chip champion, is on track to mass produce processors on its 5nm-class process technology later this year, according to a Financial Times report that cites two sources with knowledge of the matter. Huawei's HiSilicon chip development arm will be SMIC's alpha customer for its 5nm node and is expected to make AI and smartphone processors.
SMIC has reportedly established new semiconductor production lines in Shanghai to mass-produce chips designed by technology giant Huawei on its 5nm fabrication technology. As expected, the company's 5nm-class manufacturing process will not rely on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as the company cannot get appropriate tools from ASML. Instead, SMIC will use 'stockpiled' deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography tools, according to the Financial Times.
