Episode 55: Intel IFS Economics and Last Fabs Standing

The Circuit

Summary

In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the puzzle of Intel foundries and the challenges of determining their revenue. They explore historical economics data points and the exit zone for leading-edge fabs. They analyze the revenue and financial projections for Intel Foundry Services (IFS) and the need for external customers. They also discuss the long-term outlook for IFS and potential scenarios for the future, including strategic partnerships and acquisitions. The episode concludes with the understanding that IFS will require a long-term timeframe and significant investment to become a competitive foundry.

Takeaways

• Determining the revenue of Intel foundries is a challenging puzzle due to the lack of access to data and cost information.
• Historical economics data points provide insights into the exit zone for leading-edge fabs and the challenges faced by companies in staying competitive.
• IFS revenue projections indicate the need for external customers to fund the investment in leading-edge fabs.
• The long-term outlook for IFS suggests that it will take time and significant investment to become a competitive foundry.
• Strategic partnerships and acquisitions may play a role in the future of IFS and the semiconductor industry.