RF Semiconductor Market Outlook – 2027 

RF (Radio Frequency) power semiconductor is an electronic device that relies on electronic properties of semiconductor material such as Si, GaAs, and can be utilized as a switch, rectifier or amplifier in power electronics. RF power semiconductor is designed to work in radio frequency spectrum that ranges from 3 KHz to 300 GHz. 

These devices are largely used in telecommunication sector for cellular and wireless infrastructure as they help to filter network interferences from communication channels and are cheaper as compared to vacuum tubes. Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs) based RF semiconductor is widely adopted in smartphones, satellite communication devices among others in consumer electronics sector as they include high electron mobility, high thermal stability, low noise and wide temperature operating range. 

GaN-based RF semiconductors are used in radar boards enabling efficient navigation, collision avoidance, real-time air traffic control as they exhibit high breakdown voltage, high power density, high frequency and excellent thermal conductivity enabling long-range operations. Increasing penetration of LTE technology and growing advancements in wireless communication systems implies that RF semiconductor market share would undergo steady high growth in the coming years.

The global RF semiconductor market is segmented on the basis of product type, material, frequency range, industry vertical, and region. Based on product type, the RF semiconductor market is categorized into RF power amplifier, RF duplexers, RF passives, RF switches, phase shifters, oscillators, attenuators, and others. In terms of material, the RF semiconductor market is divided into silicon (Si), silicon-germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), and indium phosphide (InP). 

On the basis of frequency range, the market is divided into <10 GHz, 10 GHz – 20 GHz, 20 GHz – 30 GHz, 30 GHz – 60 GHz, and >60 GHz. In terms of industry vertical, the market is segregated into consumer electronics, IT & telecommunication, aerospace & defence, automotive, healthcare, and others. Geographically, the market is analyzed across several regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa (LAMEA).

Key players operating in the global RF semiconductor industry include Qorvo, Skyworks, Analog Devices Inc., Texas Instruments, NXP Semiconductor, Cree Inc., Murata Manufacturing, Maxim Integrated, Qualcomm Inc., STMicroelectronics, and Mercury Systems. These companies have adopted several strategies such as product launches, partnerships, collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures to strengthen their foothold in the global RF semiconductor market. 

Top Impacting Factors

Rise in necessity for advanced filtering technologies, owing to increase network traffic technological shift from 3G to 4G/LTE and then 5G as well as surge emerging trend of digitization leading to lighting applications in smart city projects fuel the RF semiconductor market growth. However, increase cost of RF devices along with performance improvement and reduced price margin tend to restrain the RF semiconductor market growth.

On the other hand, surge in importance of smart RF devices in radar and electronic warfare systems due to high bandwidth and efficient performance boosts the market revenue. Evolution of 5G along with advancements of telematics and infotainment equipment requiring RF semiconductor devices for advanced driver assistance purposes tend to present new pathways to the RF semiconductor industry. 

New Product Launches to Flourish the Market

Key RF semiconductor market players worldwide have adopted necessary steps to improve functionalities and range of options in frequencies as well as power to be easily incorporated in fast-moving programs. This delivers better design concepts and help engineers get more bandwidth to focus on core value of the product.

In October 2019, NXP Semiconductors, American-Dutch semiconductor manufacturer, announced RF circuit collection that provides engineers online access to more than four hundred RF power reference circuits and documents, which accelerates power amplifier development. This RF Circuit Collection provides access to wide range of evaluation boards from 1.8MHz to 3.8GHz along with output power from 10dBm to 1800watt. 

Data packages offer set of design reference files, access to order fully assembled boards as well as a description of evaluation board with performance data. This online availability of reference circuit design files helps reduce time to market for 5G wireless infrastructure, and Industry 4.0, hence enhancing adoption of solid-state into emerging RF power applications such as RF Energy.

In February 2020, Qualcomm, multinational semiconductor and telecommunications equipment company, declared the Qualcomm ultraSAW filter technology that is expected to offer high performance in the frequency ranging from 600 MHz to 2.7 GHz.

Surge in Use in Automotive and Industrial Applications

RF semiconductor devices are used in short and long-range millimetre wave radars used in automotive and transportation to enable vehicle-to-vehicle as well as vehicle to infrastructure communication. Low-noise amplifiers are used in automotive radar that are installed in vehicles to enable advanced driver assistance purposes such as blind-spot detection, lane departure warning system, collision warning as well as automated cruise control system.

In May 2019, TDK Corp., manufacturer and supplier of passive components, introduced the new ZDE Series, an AEC-Q200 compliant RF components that support LTE, WLAN, Bluetooth, and DSRC. This series of components offer high performance and reliability in safety critical applications operating in harsh environments such as multi-connected cars, ADAS, telematics, infotainment, and smart keys. 

The series comprises circulators and isolators in wide range of sizes for use in 5G sub-6GHz NR 3.5GHz and 5GHz bands to support variations in outputs, band frequencies, terminal structure and power levels from 2.5W to 150W. The major applications include base stations, repeaters and power amplifier systems. In July 2019 Skyworks launched SKYH22001 and SKY22002, power amplifiers that are internally tuned from 700 MHz to 2.7 GHz and are tunable upto 6 GHz.

Key Benefits of the Stakeholders

• The study gives an analytical overview of the RF semiconductor market forecast with current trends and future estimations to determine imminent investment pockets.
• The report provides information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with detailed RF semiconductor market share.
• The current RF semiconductor market trends are quantitatively analyzed from 2020 to 2027.
• Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers & suppliers in the market. 
• The report provides a detailed RF semiconductor market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in coming years. 

Market Scope and Structure Analysis

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

• Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is unsettling for people as well as organizations and business firms worldwide. With shutdown of manufacturing operations and travel & transportation ban worldwide the demand for RF semiconductors has also plunged. The exact measure of the scale and scope of the challenge cannot be anticipated yet.
• Most automobile manufacturers and industry automation systems had to suspend operations or are working at a reduced capacity, which has resulted in reduction in demand of large-scale semiconductor devices at least for the short-term. The movement of raw materials to suppliers and finished products to the consumer is hindered due to worldwide travel restriction.
• Use of RF semiconductors in telecommunication systems to provide high bandwidth and filter network interferences because of increased network traffic through communication channels currently drives the market revenue. The industry is anticipated to return to normalcy steadily after lockdown restrictions are lifted.

RF Semiconductor Market Key Segments

Questions Answered in the RF Semiconductor Market Research Report

• Who are the leading market players active in the RF semiconductor market?
• What would be the detailed impact of COVID-19 on the RF semiconductor market size?
• How current RF semiconductor market trends would influence the industry in the next few years?
• What are the driving factors, restraints, and opportunities in the RF semiconductor market?
• What are the projections for the future that would help in taking further strategic steps?