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INDUSTRIES
November 21, 2008
Study: ABI Research Puts Total Available Market for Microwave VEDs at $1 Billion
By Calvin Azuri, TMCnet Contributor
ABI Research recently conducted a study to examine the microwave and millimeter wave high power vacuum electron device market and also to find out the effect gallium nitride (GaN) devices have on this market.
The study has been titled “Microwave and Millimeter Wave High-Power Vacuum Electron Devices and the Gallium Nitride Threat”.
According to the study, the total available market (TAM) for the microwave and millimeter wave high-power vacuum electron devices (VEDs) is around $1 billion. The basic technology used in these high-performance RF power devices is based on the vacuum tube principles that date from the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries.
These devices are being used in military, scientific and space communications applications. The recent study by ABI Research (News - Alert) leads to better understanding about the size and major manufacturers of the high-power RF vacuum electron device market. The report also provides information on how long the market will continue and whether there will be any new entrants.
The high-power RF vacuum electron device is a highly stable industry due to the recent consolidations that have taken place. According to the director of ABI Research, Lance Wilson, “Vacuum electron devices may at first seem anachronistic. But in some cases there is no other way to generate such high levels of RF power within an acceptably small space.” There are certain klystrons and gyrotrons that are able to generate megawatts. But it would take tens of thousands of transistors to do the same.
A new RF semiconductor technology that has the potential to disrupt at least part of this market is gallium nitride. It is emerging as the basis for semiconductor devices. Gallium nitride combines very high frequency performance with high power capability. The study by ABI Research tries to answer whether Gallium nitride devices will start to erode the dominance of VED in high power microwave and millimeter wave amplifiers.
ABI Research is a market research firm that provides market intelligence and analysis to clients so that they can make informed decisions. A hybrid approach consisting of in-house analyses, primary and secondary data gathering as well as non-disguised judgment sampling is used to prepare the reports.
Calvin Azuri is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Calvin's articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Jessica Kostek
