Growth in the last quarter of 2012 pulled GaAs device revenue to a slight gain for 2012. The Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service (GaAs) Insight, “GaAs Device Industry Closes up in 2012,” explores GaAs device revenue growth and trends. It also presents the revenue performance of leading GaAs device manufacturers and foundries like RFMD, Skyworks, TriQuint Semiconductor, Avago Technologies and WIN Semiconductors.

The Insight concludes that handset growth, particularly smartphones, is responsible for most of the revenue growth in the GaAs device market. As data consumption continues to soar, handsets will remain the primary driver for GaAs device growth. In the short-term, revenue in the GaAs device market is expected to exceed the historical average. In the longer term, the Insight points out that recent developments in CMOS multi-mode, multi-band handset PAs from Qualcomm and others will pose a significant threat to the GaAs device market.

“Smartphones continue to grow faster than the overall handset market. This growth, coupled with more bands and increased GaAs device content remains the single biggest driver for revenue growth in the GaAs device market,” noted Eric Higham, Director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service (GaAs). “In the short-term, we anticipate this combination of factors will drive GaAs device revenue growth above historical averages”.

Asif Anwar, director, Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice, added, “Strong growth in the last quarter of 2012 provides a good starting point for the GaAs industry in 2013. However, recent announcements about CMOS multi-mode, multi-band PAs and envelope tracking will threaten the GaAs device market and these developments will be monitored closely.”