MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings (Nasdaq: MTSI) (hereinafter referred to as "MACOM") and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM)) (hereinafter referred to as "ST") announced on the 25th that they will Expand the production capacity of 150mm silicon-based GaN in ST plants in 2019, and expand 200mm silicon-based GaN as needed. The expansion plan aims to support the construction of global 5G telecommunication networks, based on the extensive silicon-based GaN agreement announced by MACOM and ST in early 2018.
With the global rollout of 5G networks and the shift to massive MIMO (M-MIMO) antenna configurations, demand for RF RF power products is expected to increase significantly. Specifically, MACOM estimates that the number of power amplifier needs will increase from 32 to 64 times. Accordingly, 5G infrastructure investment is expected to increase more than 3 times within 5 years. Therefore, the cost of a single amplifier is estimated to drop to one tenth to One twentieth.
John Croteau, President and CEO of MACOM, said: "The major base station OEMs know that in order to meet the cost, spectrum and energy efficiency goals of 5G antenna field deployment, they need the performance of wide bandgap GaN devices and the cost structure and Manufacturing scale. Through cooperation with STMicroelectronics, we believe that only MACOM can meet all the requirements of base station manufacturers-product performance, cost advantage and high-yield supply chain. We look forward to the joint capacity investment in this early stage, which will enable us Deploy up to 85% of the global 5G network construction market. "
Marco Monti, President of Automotive and Discrete Products, STMicroelectronics said, "As a global semiconductor technology leader, ST has laid a solid foundation in the field of silicon carbide technology. We are now advancing RF silicon-based GaN technology to support OEM manufacturers to establish new The first generation of high-performance 5G networks. Silicon carbide is ideal for power applications such as automotive power conversion, and silicon-based GaN can provide the RF performance, capacity and commercial cost structure required to achieve 5G. ST and MACOM aim to break the industry through this initiative Bottleneck to meet the needs of 5G network construction. "