Skyworks Solutions, an innovator of high-performance analog semiconductors connecting people, places, and things, announced a significant milestone with the shipment of over 1 million SKY66318-21 power amplifiers (PA), the industry’s first high-efficiency small cell 5G PA with a bandwidth of 200 MHz at +28 dBm. This achievement shows how Skyworks is helping accelerate the adoption of 5G by enabling enhanced 5G connections and powering more efficient range extension for small cells. To demonstrate the benefits of this exciting new technology, Skyworks also collaborated with Xilinx, Inc. to showcase the spectral and power efficiency achievable using the SKY66318-21 PA in 5G infrastructure applications during the CES 2021 Show.
The demonstration included 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.
According to a Nov. 2020 report published by Allied Market Research, 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, the advent of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band, 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, PAs can deliver increased efficiency while meeting challenging out-of-band emissions and EVM requirements. Xilinx is delighted to collaborate with Skyworks and TI to provide 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. Regardless of the band, Skyworks is poised to meet the need for densification in the rapidly expanding small cell market.
The 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.
Click here to learn more about SKY66318-21.
