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Strategy Analytics: Promising but Challenging Future for 5G ComponentsAccording to Strategy Analytics (News - Alert), the complexity of radio components for 5G will lead to higher smartphone prices that could impede 5G. Despite this, 5G will initiate a rebound in radio component revenue according to the Strategy Analytics RF & Wireless Components report "Cellular UE Radio Component Forecast 2019 - 2023: Boom for Components or Bust for 5G?" New sub-6 bands for 5G, license shared access, uplink carrier aggregation, MIMO, and millimeter wave present stiff technical challenges to RF component suppliers Skyworks, Broadcom (News - Alert), Qorvo, Murata, Qualcomm and others while pushing them to come up with cost-effective solutions to the more complex radio needs of 5G phones and user equipment. Based on the architectures of 2G, 3G, LTE (News - Alert) and early 5G devices, the report looks at the recent market and provides a forecast to 2023 for market revenue and unit shipments of cellular radio compnents including basebands, transceivers, RF filters, RF duplexers & multiplexers, power amps, LNA, switches, drain modulators and antenna tuners. Christopher Taylor, Director of RF & Wireless Components and author of the report, stated, "With 5G, the radios in smartphones and other cellular devices have gotten extraordinarily complex in terms of functionality, bands and reconfigurability. In looking at the future of the radio component market, we closely considered architectures, historical price and demand trends to arrive at what we believe to be realistic compromises across the sometimes conflicting needs of operators, device OEMs and component suppliers." Stephen Entwistle, VP of Strategic Technologies at Strategy Analytics, added that "In the past five years, RF solutions have gone from discrete filters, switches and amplifiers to largely system-in-package RF front-end modules encompassing multiple technologies in one package. This has led to consolidation among RF front-end component suppliers and the emergence of Qualcomm (News - Alert) as a supplier of the entire radio system. The pressure will only increase with 5G, with new revenue opportunities available to those that can supply more complex and sophisticated modules and SoCs at attractive prices. This forecast sets the stage; those that cannot keep up will get pushed out of the market." About Strategy Analytics Strategy Analytics, Inc. provides the competitive edge with advisory services, consulting and actionable market intelligence for emerging technology, mobile and wireless, digital consumer and automotive electronics companies. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Strategy Analytics delivers insights for enterprise success. www.StrategyAnalytics.com
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