Mobile Experts released a new report on Wi-Fi Semiconductors, highlighting the trends in combo chips, SoCs, power amplifiers, LNAs, switches, and Front End Modules (FEMs). The report covers both access point hardware and client devices, with detailed information regarding the trends to higher levels of integration, higher level MIMO, new standards, and changes in semiconductor process technologies.
Principal Analyst Joe Madden explained, "The market for Wi-Fi semiconductors has been around for many years, but it's heading into a major growth phase. More than 77 percent of mobile traffic actually moves over Wi-Fi, so the Wi-Fi semiconductor market has doubled in size over the past four years. It will double again by 2020."
"Several factors are driving massive growth in Wi-Fi semiconductors. Wi-Fi is migrating to dual-band operation, with MIMO growing steadily in client devices and APs. The standards are moving to higher functionality, with wider channels and higher order modulation, driving more difficult power amplifier specifications. At the same time, new IoT devices are emerging with unique requirements in terms of cost, power efficiency, and performance."
Madden continued, "As usual, Mobile Experts dove deeply into the RF technology here, and we have determined the direction for GaAs and RF SOI devices, as well as the direction of integration trends for RF devices."
This report includes 36 charts and diagrams to illustrate both technical and financial analysis for Wi-Fi semiconductors. A five-year forecast is included for shipments and revenue, related to AP SOCs, AP RF modules, client "combo chips", client RF modules, and IoT devices. The document reports on market share for APs, SoCs, and RF devices.
Companies mentioned include:
Aerohive, Anadigics, Arris, Aruba/HP, Asus, Avago/Broadcom, Avaya, Belair/Ericsson, Belkin/Linksys, Broadcom, Buffalo, Cisco, Comcast, D-Link. Guerrilla RF, Huawei, Intel, Juniper Networks, MACOM, Marvell, Mediatek, Meru Networks, Microwave Technology, Microsemi, Murata/Peregrine, Netgear, Qorvo, Qualcomm Atheros, Quantenna, RFAxis, Richwave, Ruckus, Sagemcom, Skyworks, Technicolor, Ubiquiti Networks, WiSpry, Xirrus and Zebra.