10G and 40G Market Segments to Grow at CAAGR of 28 Percent

A study last July by Strategy Analytics, "Fiber-optic Analog IC Market Forecast: 2007-2012," predicts that GaAs and InP (Gallium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide) technologies will be the drivers for 10G and 40G growth. Collectively, the 10G and 40G capacity market segments will grow at a CAAGR (compound annual average growth rate) of 28% with demand for GaAs and InP transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), post amplifiers and optical laser drivers representing over 25% of the total fiber-optic analog IC market in 2012.

The total market for fiber-optic analog ICs will grow at a respectable CAAGR of 9% through 2012. Driven by increasing broadband connectivity and bandwidth requirements across both fixed and mobile platforms, 10G and 40G network infrastructure rollout will be the fastest growing end markets for fiber-optic analog ICs, with compound semiconductors serving as the primary enabling technologies.

"The overall market for TIAs, post amplifiers and laser drivers will be worth almost $500 million by 2012," predicts Asif Anwar. "While the overall market will be dominated by CMOS and SiGe technologies, GaAs and InP technologies will be the drivers for 10G and 40G growth, especially for the optical laser driver function."

"Content delivery to the home over fiber and 3G and 4G wireless platforms will drive bandwidth requirements upwards," notes Stephen Entwistle, VP Strategic Technologies Practice. "10G and 40G rollout will be key in supporting the rollout of future wireless and fixed broadband platforms. The market is already looking to 100G in the future."

In March, TriQuint announced the release of two new driver amplifiers including the optical communications market's first surface-mount technology (SMT) device for next-generation 40Gb/s (Gigabits per second) networks. This new high-performance device will ease assembly and significantly reduce power consumption as designers address the need for faster, more economical networks.

"The new TGA4943-SL represents significant advances on many levels. Its power consumption is appreciably better. It consumes only 2.1 Watts – about 50% of comparable optical network solutions. It's a greener product that should provide real-world savings for network operators," said TriQuint Optical Networks Product Marketing Manager Mike Tessaro.

Mr. Tessaro will be one of the presenters of our webinar May 26th on the topic of these new GaAs 10 and 40 GB/s optical drivers. Given TriQuint's strong earnings of late, it should be worth the time to find out what has them pushing hard into the fiber long-haul market.

TriQuint and Win Lead GaAs Foundry Market

The latest Strategy Analytics report says that TriQuint and Win Semiconductors continue to control the market, increasing their collective share of the GaAs (gallium arsenide) foundry market from 67% in 2007 to 77% in 2008.

TriQuint held onto the top spot in 2008, benefiting from commercial opportunities as well as engagements in the US defense and aerospace industries. Win Semiconductors is by far the largest pure-play GaAs foundry, pushing TriQuint hard for the number one spot in 2008, with only one percentage point separating the two companies in overall market share.

"Strategy Analytics estimates that the total market for GaAs foundry grew 27% year-on-year in 2008 and was worth $311 million," noted Asif Anwar at Strategy Analytics. "The market for GaAs foundry services will continue to grow as dual-sourcing and fabless strategies become more prominent in the GaAs industry."

"Start-up companies and research institutes targeting niche and emerging markets may be finding that the tapeout costs of "cheap silicon" are too expensive in the current downturn," observed Stephen Entwistle, VP of the Strategic Technologies Practice. "This offers an additional opportunity for GaAs foundries to leverage the lower costs and higher performance capabilities offered by GaAs processes."

A Market With Projected Growth This Year - RFID

Despite the weakened state of the world economy RFID markets are not contracting, according to the latest data from ABI Research. At worst they are growing at a slower rate. Positive signs are beginning to appear and forecasts suggest that even with the ailing automotive vertical included, the RFID market should see 11% growth between 2009 and 2010. Remove the deeply depressed automotive immobilizer numbers which are directly tied to vehicle production, and the growth rate jumps to almost 16%.

"Transponders, readers, software, and services are all showing healthy growth,"says practice director Michael Liard. "he most robust applications include contactless ticketing, contactless payments (particularly in North America and Europe), item-level tracking in fashion apparel and footwear, asset management (not only corporate assets, but also returnable transport items, tools/parts, and work-in-process), baggage handling, real-time location systems (RTLS), and electronic identification documents."

While the last-mentioned application, e-ID documents, showed some decline in 2008-2009 as a result of the winding down of China’s national ID card program, the sector is expected to rebound in 2010 due to increased numbers of passports being issued by dozens of national governments. Other high-profile government e-ID initiatives include border crossing cards, RFID-enabled driver’s licenses, and electronic vehicle registration (EVR).

Retail is looking forward to a boom in contactless payment cards in the US, to be followed soon afterwards by Europe. Meanwhile asset tagging will show strong uptake particularly in corporate finance and banking, healthcare, and manufacturing environments, as well as in new areas such as energy, utilities and gaming, and with continuing expansion in traditional rental asset management (library books, media, laundry, for example.)

It is nice to see something with immediate projected growth. Do you see any other growing markets in our sector?