RF for Telecom Infrastructure 2022 - Focus Mobile Network

Glossary and definitions 

Table of contents 

Scope of the report 

Methodologies & definitions 

About the authors 

Companies cited in this report 

What we got right, What we got wrong 

Yole Group Companies related report 

3-Page Summary 

Executive summary 

Market forecasts 

• System level forecast (Munits)
  • Macro BTS – Geographic view
  • Macro BTS – Generation view
  • Macro BTS – Type of Radio (AAS/RRH) and Duplex Mode
  • Macro BTS – Power level view
  • Small Cell – Geographic View
  • Small Cell – Standard and Frequency Split
  • Key Takeaway
• RF line forecast (Munits)
  • Overall RF Line Forecast
  • Macro BTS – MIMO Order view
  • Macro BTS – Power Level view
  • Small Cell – MIMO Order view
  • Small Cell – Power Level view
  • Key Takeaway
• RFFE components forecast (Mu, $M)
  • TAM – Type of component ($M)
  • TAM – Volume of component (Munits)
  • TAM – Technology Platform ($M)
  • Overall RFFE Forecast – Type of Market (Munits)
  • Overall RFFE Forecast – Type of Market ($M)
  • Overall RFFE Forecast – Type of component (Munits)
  • Overall RFFE Forecast – Type of component ($M)
  • Overall RFFE Forecast – Technology Platform (Munits)
  • Overall RFFE Forecast – Technology Platform ($M)
  • Final Power Amplifier Forecast
  • Key Takeaway
• Wafer forecast (kw)
  • Introduction
  • TAM – Type of Substrate (kw)
  • Overall, Wafer Forecast – Type of Market (kw)
  • Overall Wafer Forecast – Type of component (kw)
  • Overall Wafer Forecast – Technology Platform (kw)
  • Overall Wafer Forecast – Substrate Type (kw)
  • Key Takeaway

Market trends 

• Market dynamics
  • General Market Dynamics
  • 5G Infrastructure Market Dynamics
  • Beyond 5G : 5G Advanced and 6G
  • Key Takeaway
• Regional dynamics
  • Regional Trends Overview
  • Regional Trends – USA
  • Regional Trends – Europe
  • Regional Trends – Japan and South Korea
  • Regional Trends – China
  • Key Takeaway
• Network transformation
  • Key Technologies for 5G
  • RAN Infrastructure Segmentation
  • Distributed RAN
  • Centralized RAN
  • Virtualized RAN
  • Open RAN
  • Open RAN Alliance
  • Infrastructure Sharing
  • Key Takeaway
• What to Look Out For

Market shares and supply chain 

• Market shares
  • RAN Market Share 2020-2021
  • RAN providers Revenue 2015-2021
  • RFFE Market Shares 2020 -2021
  • RFFE relative weight per company 2021
  • Focus on the Chinese ecosystem
• Telecom infrastructure market ecosystem
  • Cellular infrastructure Ecosystem
  • RF Amplification Supply Chain
  • LNA and Switch Supply Chain
  • Beamformer Supply Chain
  • Infrastructure RFFE Ecosystem
  • US ban Impact on IDMs and foundries
• Company information
• M&A, collaborations, fundraising
  • M&A related to RF
  • Fundraising related to RF
  • Outlook

Technology trends 

• From Physical Site to Antenna System
• Beamforming
• RFFE Architecture
  • Macro BTS RFFE
  • 5G Sub-6 Massive MIMO RFFE
  • mmWave Massive MMO RFFE
• Components
  • Power amplifiers
  • RF switches
  • Filters
  • Beamformer Modules
  • What to look out for
  • Technology Platforms

Outlook 

From Remote Radio Heads to Active Antenna Systems

5G is happening now across the globe, with massive deployments on sub-6GHz bands. Sub-6 5G deployments are expected to be the majority by the end of 2023, of which almost 45% will be Massive MIMO. While traditional RRH transmits 2 to 8 streams, 5G massive MIMO systems leverage 32 or 64 streams per radio and have a huge impact on the number of RF components shipped each year and the average RF line power (5W to 10W for 64T64R and 32T32R). Sub-6 and mmWave small cells are slowly gaining momentum and are expected to thrive thanks to 5G.

Despite a decline in RFFE component shipments in 2021, the telecom infrastructure market, mainly driven by macro and micro BTS, increased in 2021 due to a general price rise, a probable consequence of the tight supply chain and the complicated geopolitical situation. The overall RF component market is estimated at 3 $B in 2021 and forecast to reach 4.3 $B in 2027. In terms of volume, the RF component market reached 1 Bu in 2021, with gain blocks, predrivers, and drivers accounting for 50% of the total amount of shipped components.

RF component growth is driven by GaN and SiGe devices

As Massive MIMO AAS becomes the mainstream BTS, we see the number of PA modules rising. There is strong competition between GaN and LDMOS for final PA designs, where GaN is gaining momentum thanks to its higher frequencies and better yield.

LDMOS and GaAs technology led the RFFE market for many years, but GaN and SiGe will grow with double-digit CAGRs until 2027 to represent 47% of the RFFE telecom infrastructure market in 2027. Large-sized components, such as gain blocks, drivers, and beamformers, will drive most of the wafer volumes in the coming years. This growth will be handled both by IDMs such as NXP and Infineon and major foundries such as GlobalFoundries and Tower Semiconductor.
At wafer level, Si 8” equivalent and GaAs 6” wafer starts represented more than 84% of the total in 2021. SOI wafer starts will see the highest growth between 2021 and 2027 at 30% CAGR.

With 6G on the horizon, the new challenge will be to transmit in sub-THz frequencies (100 – 300 GHz), where new technology, devices, and components are required. To extend the band from K-band to 100GHz and above, InP or SiGe are considered as potential technologies to enable 6G.

Telecom Infrastructure industry – Chinese RAN players remain strong – Top 5 RFFE suppliers consolidate their leadership

In the RAN ecosystem, most of the market is controlled by the five players: Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, and Samsung. Nevertheless, the democratization of small cells and the Open RAN architecture represents an exciting opportunity for newcomers and smaller players. Despite the geopolitical situation, Huawei and ZTE remain strong in the telecom infrastructure market.

The RF component market for 4G/5G wireless infrastructure is quite fragmented with a complex technological ecosystem, itself rendered more complex due to the large number of players involved. Few players stand out with sizeable market shares, amongst which are NXP, Qorvo, SEDI, and Analog Devices. With this market’s expected growth in the coming years and the high demand for GaN devices, we will likely see other players generating significant revenue in the infrastructure field.
Chinese companies are building internal capacity at each level of the supply chain. At the same time, policies also encourage investment in compound semiconductors to support the GaN supply, described as critical for 5G BTS.

Airgain, Airspan, Akash Systems, Altum RF, Amphenol, Ampleon, Analog Devices, Anokiwave, AT&T, Baicells, Beamwave, BLU Wireless, Bowei, BridgeWave, Broadcom, Cambium Networks, CCS, CETC, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Comba, Commscope, Cree, DragonWave, E band Communication, EE, Ericsson, Eta Devices, Etisalat, Dynax, Filtronic, Fujikura, Fujitsu, GCT, Guerilla RF, HiSilicon, Huawei, Iconic RF, IDT, IgniteNet, Infineon, Jio, JMA Wireless, Kathrein, KDDI, KT, Kumu Networks, LG U+, LightPointe, Linear Technology, MACOM, Marvell, Mathworks, Maxim Integrated, MCV Microwave, Microchip, MicroSemi, MicroTik, Mitsubishi Electric, Mixcomm, Mobix Labs, Molex, Monaco Telecom, Movandi, MTI Wireless Edge Limited, Murata, NEC, Neditek, Nokia, NXP, Orange, Peraso, Pharrowtech, Phazr, Pivotal Commware, pSemi, Qorvo, Qualcomm, Radwin, Renesas, RFHIC, RFS, RFWin, Samsung, Satixfy, Sivers Semiconductor, Siklu, SK Telecom, Skyworks, Sofant Technologies, Sprint, ST Microelectronics, STC, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Sunrise, Swisscom, Tmytek, T Mobile, TDK, Techplayon, Telstra, Texas Instrument, TIM, Verana, Verizon, Viva Mobile, Vodafone, Wave PIA, Wavice, Wolfspeed, Xilinx, ZTE and more.

Key features

• The market forecast includes macro BTS, Massive MIMO, small cell, and mmWave, from system level to RF component and technology platform
• Focus on the power amplifier market with a GaN / LDMOS technology split and discrete vs. module approach
• Description of the RAN and RF front-end market shares and supply chain
• Overview of the 5G RAN market trends and regional dynamics (China, USA, Europe, and Asia)
• Overview of the technology trends from system level to RF components and technology platform

Product objectives

• The report provides market forecasts starting from market estimates at the antenna system level, with a split between 4G and 5G infrastructure, massive MIMO AAS and RRH, and going down to RF components in RF lines, and wafer-level estimates for the different technologies used in component manufacturing (e.g., LDMOS, GaN, GaAs, SOI,…)
• This report looks at the RAN and RF semiconductor industry players and market to help our customers in their decision-making process regarding this very active market
• Provide relevant information regarding the complex RF component value chain