The bottom line: Memory components for long-life communication applications

By SMARTsemi
February 16, 2023

Originating in the 1830s with the invention of the electrical telegraph, the communications industry has undeniably changed the way we interact with one another and, as a consequence, the world we live in. For decades, the home phone mounted on the kitchen wall and the work phone eminent on the office desk were the norms for everyday communication. Since that time, the communications industry has grown by leaps and bounds. The first commercial satellite in the world was launched in 1964 in the US, and the first cellular phone systems made their entrance in the 1980s. In the following decades, the number of cellular network users grew exponentially, and with it, the communications equipment manufacturing industry. 

Communication applications today

Technological innovation, economic growth, the internet, and wireless communication transformed the industry into what it is today. Satellites, phones, VoIP switches, telecom switches, and base transceivers are all long-life applications that function as essential building blocks of communication today. It is safe to say that every industry relies upon multiple of these technologies on a day-to-day basis. Just how much society and the economy depend on communication technology was illustrated again in recent years by the pandemic and the consequential soaring of remote work. 

More and faster data

Reliable and scalable storage and memory components, like DRAM and FLASH, are core components of long-life communication applications. Low power and storage drive performance and efficiency in telecom and datacom systems. For battery-powered communication systems, low-power memory components assure minimal leakage current when the equipment is in standby mode. Modern-day communication equipment is required to provide fast – or even instant – data access for processing and transmission. DDR3 and DDR4 answer the need for high-speed and large-capacity storage, while eMMC is a good fit for long-life telecom/datacom technologies that require small size, low power consumption, and ruggedness.

A wake-up call

When selecting memory chips for communication applications, engineers and procurement specialists need to balance computational power and storage with cost, battery power, and size constraints. On top of that, the long-term availability of chip components for long-life applications is necessary yet challenging in today’s market. Telecom supply chains were not spared during the peak of the chip supply shortage. According to McKinsey, 93% of telecom supply chain and procurement leaders got a wake-up call during the global chip shortage to increase their supply chain resilience. These supply chain challenges persist for long-life communication applications that rely on mature DRAM and FLASH technologies. A reliable sourcing partner who can help to reinforce the OEM supply chain and build a robust end-of-life (EOL) strategy plays a crucial role in staying ahead of the game.

SMARTsemi is your supply chain partner for DRAM components, eMMC solutions, and SD/microSD Flash Memory Cards for long-life applications. With 20+ years of industry experience, we understand your challenges and have aligned our priorities with yours to simplify your memory chip supply chain for the long run. We know what you need before you need it. Get a jump start and request a sample today.

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Established over 20 years ago, SMARTsemi is a Line of Business of SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. that globally manufactures and delivers millions of memory components annually for embedded medical, robotics, communications, industrial, defense, home entertainment applications and standard, ruggedized, and custom memory and storage solutions in high-growth markets. When you think memory, think SMART. When you’re sourcing memory components, select SMARTsemi.