The latest Strategy Analytics report says that TriQuint and Win
Semiconductors continue to control the market, increasing their
collective share of the GaAs (gallium arsenide) foundry market from
67% in 2007 to 77% in 2008.
TriQuint held onto the top spot in 2008, benefiting from commercial
opportunities as well as engagements in the US defense and
aerospace industries. Win Semiconductors is by far the largest
pure-play GaAs foundry, pushing TriQuint hard for the number one
spot in 2008, with only one percentage point separating the two
companies in overall market share.
"Strategy Analytics estimates that the total market for GaAs
foundry grew 27% year-on-year in 2008 and was worth $311 million,"
noted Asif Anwar at Strategy Analytics. "The market for GaAs
foundry services will continue to grow as dual-sourcing and fabless
strategies become more prominent in the GaAs industry."
"Start-up companies and research institutes targeting niche and
emerging markets may be finding that the tapeout costs of "cheap
silicon" are too expensive in the current downturn," observed
Stephen Entwistle, VP of the Strategic Technologies Practice. "This
offers an additional opportunity for GaAs foundries to leverage the
lower costs and higher performance capabilities offered by GaAs
processes."
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