[News] Intel Reportedly Considering Dropping Glass Substrate Project, Eyes External Sourcing

Amid speculation that Intel may halt promotion of its 18A process to foundry customers, another initiative is reportedly under review. According to Wccftech, citing German outlet ComputerBase, industry sources suggest that Intel is considering abandoning its glass substrate efforts.

As noted by ComputerBase, Intel initially aimed to take a leading role in the glass substrate field, planning to handle much of the development in-house. However, the company is now reportedly shifting toward external sourcing to better focus on core areas such as CPUs and manufacturing.

With Intel planning to source glass substrates from third-party suppliers, ComputerBase points out that it remains unclear how much of the development the company will continue to handle internally. This strategy is expected to accelerate product availability, reduce Intel’s overall risk exposure, and provide greater flexibility in supplier selection, as ComputerBase notes.

For the broader glass substrate sector, ComputerBase notes that South Korean companies are taking the lead. According to The Korea Herald, the first firm expected to commercialize glass substrates might be Absolics, a semiconductor materials subsidiary of SKC.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which announced its entry into the market last year, has reportedly begun operating a pilot production line at its Sejong facility. As per The Korea Herald, citing industry sources, Samsung will use glass substrate interposers for its advanced semiconductors by 2028 to better meet customer demands.

Intel May Shift Foundry Focus from 18A to 14A for New Clients

Beyond its reported move away from glass substrate development, Intel is also said to be planning another major shift. According to Reuters, the company is considering replacing its 18A node with the next-generation 14A process for new foundry clients, where it believes it can gain a competitive edge over TSMC.

However, as Wccftech notes, despite Intel’s confidence in 14A, making the node available to external customers would still require the company to secure substantial demand from external clients.

Meanwhile, Wccftech also reports that Intel may continue using 18A for its internal products, such as Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest. Still, the prospects for wider market adoption of 18A appear to be fading.

Reuters further notes, citing sources, that Intel will continue producing chips on the 18A node where plans are already underway. This includes a relatively small volume of chips committed to Amazon and Microsoft, Reuters adds.

Read more

• [News] Intel Reportedly Weighs Dropping 18A, Bets on 14A to Attract Clients and Challenge TSMC
• [News] Intel 18A Faces Setback as Customers Withdraw After Trial Production

(Photo credit: Intel)