Spurred by new technology and architectures, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) applications are evolving from enterprise connectivity and video to competitive wireless broadband alternative, notes the Strategy Analytics Advanced Semiconductor Applications (ASA) service report 'Compound Semiconductor Content in Commercial Satellite Communications Networks: 2015-2020'.
Growth in data traffic requirements will nearly double the quantity of all elements of the commercial satellite communications network by 2020, forecasts Strategy Analytics. This growth, coupled with increasing market share, will fuel a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% for gallium nitride (GaN) revenue in this segment over the forecast period, concludes the report.
"The VSAT industry is moving to higher frequencies, more onboard processing and High Throughput Satellites (HTS) as a means of enhancing the data-rate capabilities of satcom networks," says Eric Higham, service director, Advanced Semiconductor Applications service. "GaN is enabling these new capabilities, so we expect strong growth from the technology as it makes fast inroads into applications previously served by traveling-wave tube amplifiers," he adds.
"While conventional applications are still the largest users, internet and mobility-related applications will be the fastest-growing segments of the commercial satellite communications industry," comments Asif Anwar, service director, Advanced Defense Systems service.
