GlobalWafers rolls out phased GaN capacity expansion to ease supply crunch - digitimes

Following its May 25 shareholders' meeting, GlobalWafers announced plans to expand its gallium nitride (GaN) capacity in phases to address supply constraints amid strong demand for high-efficiency pow... Read original →

GlobalWafers’ phased GaN capacity expansion isn’t merely a supply response—it reveals systemic fragility in the compound semiconductor chain. Technically, GaN’s efficiency edge will accelerate silicon MOSFET obsolescence in high-end power stages and force rapid maturation of 8-inch GaN-on-Si processes, tightening specs on silicon substrate flatness and purity. Regulatory pressures from the U.S. CHIPS Act and EU Net-Zero Industry Act compel backup fab investments outside Taiwan, China, inflating capex and compliance burdens. Competitors like IQE, Soitec, and China’s Sanan Optoelectronics will rush 6-inch GaN epi production to secure data center design wins. Within 12–24 months, GaN will shift from optional to mandatory in AI server power modules—but if capacity ramp lags AI cluster deployment, delivery bottlenecks could cascade into server shipment delays.