AI Is Driving a Historic Shift in the Global Memory Market The global memory market is undergoing one of the …
AI Is Driving a Historic Shift in the Global Memory Market
The global memory market is undergoing one of the most dramatic structural shifts in its history, and the catalyst is unmistakable: artificial intelligence.
As AI workloads scale at unprecedented speed, the world is entering a sustained, systemic memory crunch, one that is reshaping supply chains, pricing models, and competitive dynamics across the entire consumer electronics sector.
AI Data Centres Are Consuming the World’s Memory Supply
AI data centres are absorbing vast quantities of DRAM and high‑bandwidth memory (HBM), driving demand far beyond anything seen in the PC or mobile eras.
Memory manufacturers are responding rationally: reallocating production capacity toward high‑margin, enterprise‑grade components optimised for AI servers.
But this shift comes at a cost. Every wafer diverted to HBM or server‑class DRAM is a wafer no longer available for consumer‑grade DRAM and NAND.
Prices Are Surging and Supply Is Tightening
The consequences are already visible. DRAM prices surged more than 50% entering 2026, a spike analysts have described as “unprecedented” in both scale and speed. Major suppliers have effectively sold out their 2026 RAM production, with AI customers locking in capacity years ahead. Forecasts suggest that by the end of 2026, AI data centres will consume around 70% of all high‑end DRAM produced globally.
Consumer Device Makers Are Feeling the Pressure
This leaves consumer device makers – from TV and STB manufacturers to smartphone, PC, and appliance brands – squeezed between rising BOM costs and unpredictable lead times.
Large OEMs with deep pockets and long‑term supply contracts can weather the storm. Small and mid‑sized manufacturers, however, face a far more challenging landscape.
Their margins are thinner, their negotiating power more limited, and their exposure to component volatility significantly higher. In this environment, the industry needs new strategies to maintain competitiveness without compromising innovation.
One of the most effective levers available is the shift toward shared R&D models and this is precisely where DTVKit’s not‑for‑profit, shared source approach becomes a strategic advantage.
DTVKit Provides a Cost‑Effective, Low‑Risk Path Forward
DTVKit enables manufacturers to reduce cost and risk by sharing the development and maintenance of essential broadcast middleware.
Instead of each company independently investing in DVB, ATSC 1.0/3.0, DSM‑CC, CI+, and other complex stacks, members gain access to royalty‑free, production‑ready software with full source code and a collaborative roadmap shaped by the community.
With more than 150 million TVs and 70 million STBs already powered by DTVKit, the ecosystem is proven, stable, and globally deployed.
How DTVKit Directly Helps Solves the Memory‑Market Problems
Reduces BOM pressure through highly efficient software
When memory prices rise, every megabyte counts.
DTVKit’s components including DVB, DVB-NIP, IPTV, HbbTV, CI+, ATSC are engineered to be lightweight, modular, and optimised, helping manufacturers:
– Reduce RAM and flash requirements
– Avoid unnecessary hardware upgrades
– Maintain performance even on constrained platforms
This directly offsets the cost impact of more expensive memory.
Provides long‑term stability in a volatile hardware market
When supply chains tighten, device makers need software that isn’t tied to a single chipset or vendor.
DTVKit delivers:
– Hardware‑agnostic components
– A proven track record across multiple SoCs
– A stable, standards‑based foundation that reduces rework
This gives manufacturers flexibility when sourcing memory or switching platforms.
Lowers development costs through shared‑source collaboration
Rising component costs put pressure on R&D budgets.
DTVKit’s shared‑source model allows members to:
– Share the cost of maintaining complex broadcast stacks
– Access production‑ready software without per‑unit royalties
– Reinvest savings into innovation rather than reinvention
This directly counters the financial strain caused by memory inflation.
Accelerates time‑to‑market when hardware decisions are delayed
When memory availability is uncertain, product timelines slip.
DTVKit helps teams stay on track by providing:
– Mature, field‑proven components
– A consistent API surface across platforms
– Faster integration and certification cycles
This reduces the risk of delays caused by hardware volatility.
Supports next‑generation IP‑centric services without increasing hardware load
AI‑driven memory demand is pushing device makers to optimise everywhere.
DTVKit’s DVB NIP and ATSC‑3 stacks are designed to:
– Deliver advanced IP services efficiently
– Avoid unnecessary memory overhead
– Enable hybrid and IP‑first experiences on existing hardware
This helps manufacturers innovate without escalating BOM requirements.
Offers predictable, transparent costs in an unpredictable market
When memory pricing fluctuates, predictable software costs become a strategic advantage.
DTVKit provides:
– Unlimited source access
– Royalty‑free binary distribution
– A fixed annual membership fee
DTVKit offers stability when the supply chain doesn’t. It turns shared challenges into shared strength, enabling manufacturers to stay innovative, resilient, and ready for whatever the AI era brings next.
