Upper Millimeter Microwave Radio: Ready to Compete 2009

Advances in semiconductor technology, favorable spectrum policy and demand for gigabit throughput capabilities have created an opportunity for millimeter wave radio technology to prosper. While mobile backhaul is one area of use in which upper millimeter radio utilization will come to greater fruition, there are several other areas that will grow quite significantly during the next five years.

This study is an assessment of those opportunities for systems and technologies that operate in the 60 GHz, E, Q, and/or W bands, with consideration for systems that operate above 100 GHz.

Existing and future applications are identified and assessed and key market opportunities in the mobile backhaul, wireless enterprise bridge, wireless fiber lateral emulation, government and public safety networks are studied in depth. Also examined are application areas such as automotive collision avoidance, security/airport imaging and personal area networks including the use of WirelessHD.

All application segments are quantified in either shipments, revenues or both through 2013. The world market for use of upper millimeter microwave radios for mobile backhaul is also segmented by year by region through 2013.

Alternative competing technologies and platforms to millimeter technology are also analyzed to reveal the strengths, weaknesses and expected marketing positioning of millimeter platforms when compared to these other technology choices.

The study also considers the long history of millimeter technology by identifying previous uses and barriers that have limited market success. Changes in technology, public policy and applications that have renewed interest in upper millimeter microwave radio and the commercial prospects for these segments are also spelled out. Brief profiles are also provided for leading component and system vendors in the upper millimeter microwave radio industry.

• Millimeter radio technology
• Previous and existing market and technical challenges
• Competing technologies
• Imaging/security applications
• WirelessHD
• Mobile backhaul
• Public Safety and government networks
• Fiber lateral emulation
• Wireless enterprise bridges
• Automotive collision avoidance radar
• 60 GHz, E, Q, and W Bands
• Potential for applications in 100 GHz and higher bands

Visant studies are the result of primary and secondary research. Analysts gather information via interviews with marketing and engineering executives and through corporate reports, databases, and other secondary sources. Evaluations are made based on the current performance of various components of a particular technology, including need or expected need, market potential, technology evolution, maturation, price points, and the companies and resources being put towards the development or deployment as well as political considerations, when necessary.

Visant reports include one hour of client support time. This can be used to be walked through some aspects of the report of most interest or to gather additional insight to some of the conclusions of the report or its findings.