RF Front-End Market Expected to Grow at 10% CAGR by 2028

Private network deployments are set to drive the RF Front-End market to reach $320 million by 2028, according to Yole Developpement.

The telecom infrastructure market for small cell and mmWave radio Radio Frequency Front-End (RFFE) is experiencing significant growth between 2023 and 2028, with a 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). In 2023, 60% of private small cell RFFEs still rely on GaAs platforms.

Telecommunication equipment manufacturers offer a diverse range of products, including small cells, baseband units, and core networks. Companies such as Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, and Samsung provide base station solutions tailored for cellular private networks.

The telecommunications industry is exploring growth opportunities in private networks, especially with the emergence of 5G private networks that enhance services, automation, and efficiency. Private networks offer exclusive wireless access, meeting the security and data needs of modern enterprises.

"Private networks are essential for digital transformation worldwide, with significant activity in Asia, China, Europe, and the United States," says Cyril Buey from Yole. "In Sub-6 GHz private small cells, steady growth is expected, driven by the increasing use of 8TRx small cells. However, 2TRx and 4TRx small cells will remain the primary sub-6 GHz solution."

The small-cell and mmWave radio RFFE market was valued at $160 million in 2022 and is projected to grow at a 10% CAGR, surpassing $320 million by 2028. GaAs technology dominates for small cells below 1W, with an 8% CAGR.

The industry is focusing strongly on Sub-3 GHz and C-band deployment, with 44,000 wafer starts in 2022 expected to exceed 75,000 by 2028. While the use of mmWave small cells is growing slowly, their application in Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for connectivity to Wi-Fi gateways is notable.

"Baseband virtualization (V-RAN) in the 5G standalone architecture streamlines cellular private network deployment by shifting baseband and core functions to servers," explains Buey. "There are two main types of private networks: standalone, which are isolated from public networks, and shared, which are integrated with Mobile Network Operator (MNO) networks."

Private wireless networks require infrastructure, including a radio access network, core network, and devices, as well as key services such as network applications, security, and management. GaAs is used for low power RF lines, while LDMOS/GaN is used for higher power.

In mmWave radios, massive MIMO and hybrid beamforming increase the number of RF lines. Beamformers manage RF functions and utilize RFSOI, CMOS, or SiGe technology with 8-32 channels.

While cellular and Wi-Fi have similarities, they serve different roles in enterprises. Private 4G/5G networks have complex architectures, while Wi-Fi is simpler, user-friendly, and widely compatible.

Verticals that benefit from cellular private networks include manufacturing, mines, oil and gas, government, public safety, distribution, retail, and public services.