4 January 2012

GaN gaining traction in commercial applications

Despite continuing dominance by military applications, the overall gallium nitride (GaN) device market will rise at a compound average annual growth rate (CAAGR) of nearly 29% to $178m in 2015, as GaN technology is also seeing widespread deployment in commercial applications (led by cable TV and high-power electronics) which will grow from less than $1m to nearly $58m, according to the report ‘GaN Microelectronics Market Update 2010-2015’ released recently by Strategy Analytics.

The report covers GaN technology trends and challenges to wider deployment in military and commercial applications, as well as reviewing some of the centrally funded programs from the USA, Europe and Japan.

“Military applications and government funding for semiconductor companies like TriQuint and Cree will continue to drive GaN development,” comments Asif Anwar, director in the Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice. “Additionally, the overall GaN market will expand with demand for commercial applications,” he adds.

The percentage of total GaN revenue derived from military applications will shrink from 98% in 2010 to 67% in 2015, forecasts Strategy Analytics. Meanwhile, revenue growth rates for GaN devices in wireless infrastructure, high-power electronics and CATV/VSAT (very small aperture terminals) will all exceed 100%.

“Driven by performance advantages like efficiency, power dissipation and operating temperature, GaN is finally starting to generate interest in commercial market applications,” notes Eric Higham, director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. “GaN developments by device manufacturers like RFMD and Nitronex (for CATV applications) and International Rectifier and EPC (for power converter applications) are displacing other technologies,” he adds. “Operators and equipment manufacturers are recognizing the operating cost advantage that GaN can provide.”

See related items:

RF & power electronics opportunities for GaN market growth

Energy efficiency driving demand for power management ICs

Tags: GaN GaN RF

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