Market Trends of Gallium Arsenide GaAs Wafer Industry
Radio Frequency Electronics to Hold the Significant Share in the Market
Radio-frequency (RF) devices produced with GaAs substrates are widely used in wireless communication applications, including wireless networks (WLAN), 4G/5G base stations, mobile communication, satellite, and Wi-Fi communications. The development of such trends marks an important milestone in developing next-generation, ultra-compact, and high-performance RF front-end chipsets that are needed for smartphones and other handsets, supporting 4G and 5G services.
GaAs wafers' higher efficiency and lower power consumption are also enticing market participants to adopt them, positively influencing the demand for GaAs wafers. Optoelectronic devices were previously widely used in computer peripherals and short-range optical communications. Still, they are in high order for new applications such as augmented reality (AR), lidar, and facial recognition.
Globally, internet penetration is rising, especially in developing countries such as India and Brazil, stimulating the demand for GaAs wafers. Subsequently, the need for fiber-optic networks and backhaul, base stations, and Wi-Fi connectivity products with wireless communication infrastructure and have supported the growing penetration of the internet worldwide, which, in turn, is driving the adoption of GaAs wafers.
Further, the growth of mobile data consumption rate and the wide adoption of IoT devices also propel the requirement for Wi-Fi and other wireless communication devices. As a result of the high growth rates for such products and technologies related to wireless communications are aiding the adoption of GaAs wafers. For instance, according to 5G America, the global number of mobile 5G subscriptions is expected to grow from 1.9 million in 2023 to 5.9 million by 2027.
Asia Pacific to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period
The Asia Pacific region has an increasing demand for intelligent consumer electronic devices. China, Taiwan, Japan, and India have surging demand for advanced technological devices such as smartphones, wearables, computers, and laptops, further augmenting the regional market's growth. GaAs products offer better connectivity through enhanced data transmission and quality than silicon-based devices, so their demand has increased. Additionally, GaAs products can be manufactured on large scales with high yield rates, which improves business growth. The increasing Internet penetration, expansion of 4G and 5G networks, and the electronic industry are also expected to fuel the development of the GaAs wafer market in the region.
One major driving factor in the Asia Pacific region is the growing demand for advanced technological devices such as computing devices, smartphones, tablets, and laptops. As GaAs products such as transistors can be used for smartphones and other wireless communication devices, the growing demand is driving the need for GaAs wafers at a promising rate.
China is the major country dominating the market for the electronics industry owing to considerable government support, which is fostering the development of the studied market in China. For instance, the Chinese government is promoting its domestic technology market by funding the industry players. Such trends are encouraging new players to expand their presence in the country. For instance, in February 2023, AXT, a manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafer substrates such as GaAs wafer substrates, announced an expansion of operations at its Beijing facility. The company invested in raw material extraction facilities to further strengthen its position as the leading provider of compound semiconductor substrates.
China is also among the leading countries in 5G infrastructure development and adopting other consumer electronic and electric mobility solutions. For instance, according to MIIT, by the end of 2022, China had about 2.31 million 5G base stations. Together the growth of these industries is creating a favorable outlook for the growth of the studied market in China.
Taiwan has witnessed the wafer market as one of the critical areas of technological development. As a result, Taiwan is also expected to hold a significant market share in the global GaAs wafer market. Companies across Taiwan are addressing the supply chain needs of front and back-end advanced wafer-level packaging architectures to cater to specialty materials and processes, thus, influencing the overall market studied.
