YG PRESS NEWS – RF GaN industry: varied GaN-on-SiC supply chain dynamics and an evolving GaN-on-Si ecosystem
The GaN RF device market is growing, driven by new opportunities in defense and satellite communications. RF GaN-on-Si technology is being prepared for telecom infrastructure and mobile market applications.
- The RF GaN device market is expected to grow from US$1.1 billion in 2023 to US$2 billion by 2029, at a 10% CAGR.
- As of 2024, the GaN RF-on-SiC supply chain encompasses various business models, with IDMs being dominant due to the demands of the telecom and defense markets.
- Discrete devices dominate the market, but a shift towards integration could increase the use of modules and MMICs.
According to Yole Group, in the RF GaN 2024 report, as of 2024, the GaN RF-on-SiC supply chain includes various business models, with IDMs being dominant due to demands from the telecom and defense markets. Leading GaN RF device manufacturers like SEDI, Qorvo, NXP, and Macom also use other materials such as Si, SiGe, and GaAs. In 2023, Macom acquired Wolfspeed’s RF business and OMMIC, strengthening its position in both GaN-on-SiC and GaN-on-Si technologies.
In the defense sector, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and CETC are leading in GaN adoption, with Qorvo and Macom serving as trusted GaN foundries. Many companies, including Qorvo and RFHIC, focus on defense and satellite communications due to better business prospects and lower cost pressures compared to telecom.
In telecom, Ericsson and Nokia are increasing their supply of GaN RF devices, while Samsung collaborates with Korean suppliers. US sanctions have led Huawei and ZTE to develop a domestic supply chain, resulting in a bifurcated global 5G market. Competition between GaN-on-SiC and GaN-on-Si modules is intensifying, especially with telecom infrastructure trends favoring lower power PAs. The SiC wafer market remains divided among Wolfspeed, Coherent, and SICC, focusing on power applications, with limited capacity expansion and a slow transition from 4″ to 6″… For more information about this analysis, please contact us!
