Date: 18/03/2011

5GHz WiFi modules with integrated power amplifiers from RFMD

RF Micro Devices, Inc. has expanded its 5GHz WiFi product portfolio to include two new 5GHz high-band WiFi front end modules (FEMs) with integrated power amplifiers (PAs). The two new RF5506, and RF5516 are optimized for the growing markets of smartphone and tablet.

The global WiFi market is growing rapidly and is forecast to represent a greater than $1 billion total addressable market (TAM) by 2014. Adoption of dual-band WiFi (2.4GHz/5GHz) in handsets is estimated to increase from approximately 25% of all handsets in 2011 to approximately 50% of all handsets in 2012, with increasing emphasis on the 5GHz band for use in 3G/4G smartphones. The anticipated growth in tablet devices is also forecast to support 5GHz FEM adoption, as mobile WiFi chipsets for tablets increasingly adopt dual-band functionality.

Bob Van Buskirk, president of RFMD's Multi-Market Products Group (MPG), said, "RFMD forecasts the WiFi market will expand significantly as dual-band adoption increases and as volume expands across a variety of end markets, including smartphones, tablets, home automation, WiFi TV, automotive and personal computing. Because carrier requirements continue to demand higher power levels, this is placing an even greater focus on product performance and increasing the reliance on RFMD's core technology and product development capabilities."