Ericsson remains top point-to-point radio manufacturer

BOSTON, USA: Because consumers are increasing their use of smartphones and tablets in order to stay connected “anywhere, anytime,” system OEMs are increasing the number of wireless point-to-point radios to accommodate all the additional traffic backhaul.

The recently released Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service (GaAs) Forecast and Outlook, “Wireless Point-to-Point Radio Component Demand: 2010-2015,” shows that leading infrastructure equipment supplier, Ericsson, manufactured 26 percent of the nearly 1.4 million point-to-point radios that shipped in 2010.

This Strategy Analytics research forecasts growth for point-to-point radio shipments to slightly more than 2 million in 2015, resulting in $300 million RF component revenue. In addition to Ericsson, the report details product offerings from major suppliers, such as Nokia Siemens Networks, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent, Aviat Networks, BridgeWave Communications, TriQuint, Avago Technologies, Hittite and RFMD.

“Wireless is becoming an important backhaul solution as the amount of mobile data increases because of increased device use,” noted Eric Higham, director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. “Backhaul is becoming an integral part of the whole wireless network, so it is not surprising to see large wireless equipment OEMs like Ericsson leading the charge.”

Asif Anwar, director in the Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice added, “As the infrastructure deployments for emerging 4G technologies—including LTE—pick up, we expect to see growth in the use of wireless point-to-point radios for backhaul.”