Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ: SWKS), a supplier of high-performance analog semiconductors, today announced a significant milestone marking the shipment of over 1 million of its SKY66318-21 power amplifier (PA) chips, a high efficiency small cell PA platform with a bandwidth of 200 MHz at +28 dBm.
The company says the achievement highlights how Skyworks is accelerating the adoption of 5G infrastructure by enabling enhanced 5G connections and powering more efficient range extension for small cells. To demonstrate the benefits of this exciting new technology, Skyworks has also collaborated with Xilinx, Inc. to showcase the spectral and power efficiency achievable using the SKY66318-21 PA in 5G infrastructure applications during the all-digital CES 2021 Show.
The CES demonstration includes Skyworks’ SKY66318-21 high-efficiency PA, Xilinx’s Crest Factor Reduction (CFR) and Digital Pre-Distortion IP along with an RF transceiver from Texas Instruments. Featuring a highly efficient, wide instantaneous bandwidth, fully input/output matched PA with high gain and linearity, the SKY66318-21 enables newly auctioned operation in both the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and the 5G C-band, making it well positioned for “carrier sharing” where multiple operators can take advantage of the opportunity to share the same equipment.
The demonstration may be viewed by visiting the Skyworks CES virtual booth.
According to a November 2020 report published by Allied Market Research and cited by Skyworks, the small cell 5G network industry is expected to reach $8.32 billion by 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate of 43% from 2020 to 2027. The report also notes that the rise in network densification, increase in mobile data traffic, advent of CBRS band deployments, and growth in investment in 5G infrastructure by several economies have driven the growth of the global small cell 5G network market.
“For emerging 5G environments, it is critical that the PA can deliver increased efficiency while meeting challenging out-of-band emissions and EVM requirements,” said Dan Mansur, vice president of marketing, Wired and Wireless Group at Xilinx. “We are delighted to collaborate with Skyworks and TI to provide our highly adaptable CFR and DPD IP which offers a scalable digital front-end solution to address future RF PA efficiency needs.”
“As 5G is being deployed globally and with the mid-band serving as the sweet spot thanks to its speed, capacity and range, the SKY66318-21 is a robust addition to Skyworks’ broad portfolio of complete connectivity solutions,” added David Stasey, vice president and general manager of diversified analog solutions for Skyworks. “Regardless of band, Skyworks is poised to meet the need for densification in the rapidly expanding small cell market.”
The company notes its SKY66318-21 PA has a compact design, making it ideal for 5G NR and 4G LTE systems operating from 3300 to 3700 MHz. Active biasing circuitry is integrated to compensate for temperature, voltage, and process variation. The SKY66318-21 is part of a high-efficiency, pin-to-pin compatible PA family supporting major 3GPP bands.
To learn more about the SKY66318-21 3300 to 3700 MHz wide instantaneous bandwidth high-efficiency PA, visit: https://www.skyworksinc.com/en/Products/Amplifiers/SKY66318-21.