Mikron, the Russian semiconductor maker based in Zelenograd near Moscow, is moving forward with the production of chips intended for domestic SIM cards. This plan, described in the Kommersant version, marks a clear step in expanding Russia’s in‑house capabilities in the cellular sector.
The roll‑out is slated to begin in 2024, with the new SIM cards designed to carry native cryptography support that differentiates them from current identifiers used in cellular networks. The objective is to build chips and implement protective algorithms that strengthen Russia’s technological independence from foreign suppliers in the field of mobile communications.
The project envisions a manufacturing standard of at least 90 nanometers and will run at the Zelenograd facility with an annual output cap around 20 million chips. Industry watchers note this capacity is substantially below market demand, which is estimated at 70 to 100 million SIM cards per year, underscoring potential bottlenecks that could shape subsequent expansion and investment decisions.
Reports indicate that the software needed to support the new SIM cards is already undergoing trials with mobile operators, signaling progress in the integration of the new hardware with existing network ecosystems and security protocols.
Earlier notes from outlets including socialbites.ca referenced Oppo halting production of certain MariSilicon chips to focus on improving photo quality, highlighting the broader shifts occurring within domestic chip initiatives and related product strategies (via socialbites.ca).