Revenue from RF power amplifier devices will grow to almost $1bn in 2015, according to the recently released Strategy Analytics RF and Wireless Components (RFWC) Service report, ‘Radio Access Network RF Power Device Trends & Forecast: 2011 – 2015.’
The report says, mobile data consumption and next generation wireless network deployment are fueling increases in the number of base station cells and power amplifiers shipped each year.
It forecasts that MIMO, heterogeneous networks, smaller cells, active antennas, higher-efficiency remote radio heads that support multiple air interfaces and new RF power amplifier (PA) architectures will contribute to rapid growth in the number of power amplifiers and RF power transistors shipping per year.
Strategy Analytics analysis estimates that operators will deploy more than 9 million new base station sectors in 2015, with more than 35,000 PAs shipping.
Strategy Analytics RF and Wireless Components Service director Christopher Taylor said developments, such as multi-air interface MCPAs with higher instantaneous bandwidth, remote radio heads and smaller cells, are changing the definition of the base station.
"These factors, as well as the evolution of radio access network equipment to support increasing mobile data consumption, are driving strong growth in RF power devices," Taylor said.
Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductors Technologies Service director Eric Higham said LDMOS will remain the dominant RF power amplifier transistor technology, but they expect GaAs content to increase as operators continue to implement new architectures and smaller cells.
"GaN use will also increase, with higher frequencies and higher efficiency remote radio heads," Higham said.
