GaAs technology status and perspectives for multi-band and multi-standard challenges in upcoming RF-frontends

GaAs HBT technologies currently dominate the wireless handset marketplace due to their proven RF performance, time-to-market, and size advantages compared to other technologies. As with any technology, new customer specifications and requirements drive the development of next generation processes. Some of the challenging customer requirements that will be, or already are, part of the future of handset power amplifiers are lower end-of-life battery voltage, lower/no reference voltage, improved mid-power efficiency performance, and the increasing number of band/modes used in the phone.