Driven by the explosive growth of emerging 5G networks, the number of new base stations sectors deployed will double between 2018 and 2024. 5G relies on network architectures incorporating traditional macrocells and lower power small cells in sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave frequency bands. The Strategy Analytics Advanced Semiconductor Applications (ASA) service report, “2017 - 2024 Wireless Base Station Sector Forecast: What Should You Know?,” forecasts that 5G base station sector segments will all experience compound annual growth rates greater than 100 percent over the forecast. This rapid 5G growth, coupled with continuing growth of 4G networks will result in equipment for nearly 9.4 million new and upgraded wireless base station sectors deployed in 2024.
“The 5G era has dawned and we are entering a very dynamic time in the wireless base station market segment,” noted Eric Higham, Service Director, Advanced Semiconductor Applications (ASA) service. “New architectures incorporating massive MIMO antennas, small cells and millimeter wave frequencies will provide a wealth of opportunities for the compound semiconductor industry.”
“Operators are already offering 5G fixed and mobile broadband services and we expect to see these offerings expand quickly,” observed Christopher Taylor, Director of the RF and Wireless Components (RFWC) service. “These new 5G offerings will increase base station sector and user equipment volumes, but they will also be beneficial for the underlying 4G networks, which are required as anchors and for fallback outside of 5G coverage areas.”