January 6, 2011 – BUSINESS WIRE — Gallium nitride (GaN) technology isn’t shrinking from military applications any time soon, but GaN adoption is increasing in the commercial sector, from less than $1 million in 2010 to $58 million in 2015.
Strategy Analytics covers the GaN sector in its "GaN Microelectronics Market Update 2010-2015" report for GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service (GaAs) and its Advanced Defense Systems Service (ADS) subscribers.
The overall GaN device market will grow at a nearly 29% CAGR, reaching $178 million in 2015. Strategy Analytics predicts that military applications will continue to lead the way, but the percentage of the total GaN revenue derived from military applications will shrink from 98% in 2010 to 67% in 2015. Commercial applications, led by CATV and high-power electronics, will grow from under $1 million to about $58 million. Revenue growth rates for GaN devices in wireless infrastructure, high-power electronics and CATV/VSAT (very small aperture terminals) will all exceed 100%.
The performance advantages of GaN — efficiency, power dissipation, operating temperature — are taking the material into commercial applications, said Eric Higham, director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. Device manufacturers like RFMD and Nitronex (for CATV applications) and International Rectifier and EPC (for power converter applications) are displacing other technologies with GaN, he added.
Asif Anwar, director in the Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice, added, "Military applications and government funding for semiconductor companies like TriQuint and Cree will continue to drive GaN development. The overall GaN market will expand with demand for commercial applications."
"GaN Microelectronics Market Update 2010-2015" covers GaN technology trends, advantages, disadvantages and challenges to wider deployment in military and commercial applications. It also reviews some of the centrally funded programs from the US, Europe and Japan. Access it at http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=6948
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