Samsung Electronics Begins Volume Production of First 80-nanometer DDR2 Memory

--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it is the first manufacturer in the industry to begin mass producing DDR2 DRAM -- 512 Megabit (Mb) -- on an 80 nanometer (nm) scale.

With 80-nm process technology, Samsung is able to increase its production efficiency by 50 percent over the previous 90-nm process. The production economies of scale afforded by moving to 80-nm process technology will better enable the company to meet increasing demand for DDR2.

"With demand for DDR2 at its highest level since it was made its market debut in 2004, our 80-nm technology provides us with the ability to more efficiently support the sustained demand growth that is expected in the DDR2 marketplace this year," said Tom Trill, director, DRAM Marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

Samsung was able to smoothly transition from 90-nm to 80-nm process technology because it utilized many of the basic features of 90-nm geometries, and as a result required minimal upgrades to its fabrication lines.

The move to 80-nm circuitry was sped up by the use of a recess channel array transistor (RCAT). This three-dimensional transistor layout greatly enhances the refresh rate, which is a critical element in data storage. Samsung's RCAT also reduces cell area coverage, which allows for increased process scaling by freeing up space for chip-per-wafer growth.

According to Gartner Dataquest, a semiconductor industry research organization, DDR2 memory will comprise over 50 percent of the entire DRAM market in 2006.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2005 parent company sales of US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion. Employing approximately 128,000 people in over 90 offices in 51 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones, and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com