Small Cell Semiconductors: Zero to $500M in Five Years

CAMPBELL, Calif., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new forecast published today predicts dramatic growth in the semiconductor market supporting small cells, from $90M in 2012 to more than $650M in 2017. In particular, semiconductors supporting carrier-grade small cells (excluding consumer and enterprise femtocells) will ramp from practically zero revenue in 2012 to a staggering $500M in 2017.

"Multi-band, Multi-mode, higher power, and MIMO requirements will actually make the semiconductor market grow faster than the small cell market itself," explained Joe Madden, Principal Analyst at Mobile Experts.  "Mobile operators that install a carrier-grade small cell will be looking for coverage in multiple bands and modes, so the semiconductor dollar content in each picocell and metrocell will increase over time."

"For the past three years, we have forecasted that the market will shift from consumer femtocells to a new class of carrier-grade small cells. This forecast confirms our previous guidance, and dives one level deeper to illuminate the semiconductor parts necessary to make it all work. The shift in focus will be even more dramatic at the chip level. In fact, where 90% of the small-cell semiconductor market in 2012 is devoted to consumer femtocells, by 2017 the consumer femtocell contribution will be 15% or possibly less."

Semiconductors for Small Cells includes more than 73 charts and exhibits, providing:

• A five-year forecast for consumer, enterprise and carrier femtocells, along with picocells and metrocells
• A five year-forecast for semiconductors to support small cells, including:
  • Baseband System-on-a-Chip (SoC) Processors
  • RF Transceivers
  • Power Amplifiers ranging from GaAs to LDMOS and GaN
  • Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) and Analog Pre-Distortion (APD) solutions
  • Filters
  • TCXO, OCXO, and synchronization solutions
  • Multiband, Multimode, MIMO, and WiFi requirements entering the small cell market
• Technical details of each semiconductor segment and key requirements:
  • Multi-core processor architectures
  • Transceiver architectures, including integration of transmitters and receivers
  • Transition of GaAs MMIC amplifiers to LDMOS and GaN amplifiers in higher-power applications
  • Transition from SAW filters to ceramic filters
  • Accuracy requirements for TCXOs and OCXOs for outdoor deployment
• Forecasted component ASP and revenues for five years
• Market shares for semiconductor vendors in the small cell segment
• Block Diagrams and BOM cost estimates for small cell semiconductors
• Listed design wins for multi-core processor vendors
• Profiles of key suppliers

About Mobile Experts LLC:
Mobile Experts provides insightful market analysis for the mobile infrastructure and mobile handset markets. Research topics center on technology introduction for radio frequency (RF) and communications innovation. Recent publications focus on  Small Cells, Backhaul for Small Cells, Semiconductors for Remote Radio Heads, Handset RF Front Ends, MIMO, AAS, and Macro Base Station Transceiver Forecast.

Contact:

Rachel Lorraine
Mobile Experts LLC
[email protected]
+1 (408) 540-7284
www.mobile-experts.net

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SOURCE Mobile Experts LLC