Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market | Latest Analysis, Demand Trends, Growth Forecast 

Market Summary and Growth Forecast

The global Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market is valued at $428 million in 2026 and is expected to appreciate to $704 million by 2035, at a CAGR of 5.7%.

The Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market covers integrated RF amplifier devices used to strengthen, condition, and maintain signal quality across cable television and broadband HFC networks. These components sit in a less visible part of the connectivity stack, but they have a direct effect on network reach, signal quality, available bandwidth, and the ability of operators to move toward higher-capacity services.

The business case is changing between 2026 and 2035. Traditional CATV infrastructure remains an important installed base, while cable operators are progressively upgrading portions of their networks to support higher downstream and upstream capacity. DOCSIS 4.0 is particularly relevant because it raises the performance requirements placed on the HFC plant. CableLabs states that DOCSIS 4.0 can support up to 10 Gbps downstream and 6 Gbps upstream, while its more recent work is examining spectrum extensions beyond the established 1.8 GHz range.

That shift matters for MMIC suppliers. Amplifiers must maintain gain and linearity across wider frequency ranges while handling demanding signal conditions. The requirement is not simply for more power. Operators also need lower distortion, stable gain, thermal reliability, compact packaging, and predictable performance across large installed networks.

A second factor is the long replacement cycle of cable infrastructure. Operators do not replace every active component at once. Instead, upgrades tend to move through nodes, line extenders, head-end equipment, distribution equipment, and customer-premises devices. This creates a mixed market in which legacy-compatible components and next-generation devices can coexist for years.

The technology base is also broadening. GaAs remains important because of its mature RF performance and established CATV qualification history, while GaN is becoming more relevant where higher power density, efficiency, and demanding operating conditions justify its use. Current supplier portfolios demonstrate continued investment in both material platforms.

The market’s customer base is concentrated around organizations that build, operate, or supply broadband distribution infrastructure. Key consumers include:

• Cable television and broadband operators
• HFC network owners
• Broadband equipment manufacturers
• Head-end and access-network equipment suppliers
• System integrators and contract manufacturers
• Set-top box and home-gateway manufacturers
• Regional cable operators and managed network providers

In practical terms, demand is closely tied to capital expenditure on network modernization. A cable operator expanding bandwidth or extending the useful life of an HFC plant may require new amplifier architectures even when the overall network topology remains familiar.

The broader ecosystem is already moving in this direction. CableLabs has reported increasingly mature DOCSIS 4.0 interoperability activity, including multi-vendor demonstrations at high aggregate throughput. Its work also highlights amplifiers as one of the outside-plant components that must evolve alongside taps, remote PHY devices, CCAP systems, and modems.

Market indicator	2026	2035
Global market value	$428 million	$704 million
Implied CAGR	—	5.7%
Primary demand base	CATV/HFC infrastructure	Upgraded HFC and higher-bandwidth networks
Key technology focus	75-ohm broadband amplification	Higher bandwidth, linearity, efficiency and integration
Main purchasing consideration	Reliability and compatibility	Performance across expanded spectrum and network architectures

From an investment perspective, the market should be viewed less as a standalone television component category and more as part of the active hardware layer supporting cable broadband modernization. That distinction becomes increasingly important as operators balance fiber expansion with continued investment in HFC infrastructure.

Market Segmentation and Forecast Scope

The Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market can be assessed across product technology, application, end user, and geography. Each dimension captures a different part of the purchasing decision. Material technology determines electrical performance, application determines operating requirements, end user influences qualification and volume, while geography reflects network investment patterns.

By Product Type

The principal product split is based on semiconductor technology:

• GaAs MMICs
• GaN MMICs
• SiGe and other RF technologies

GaAs MMICs remain the largest established category, accounting for an estimated 46.0% of global revenue in 2026. Their position reflects long-standing use in broadband RF amplification, mature manufacturing processes, and a broad installed base. Current CATV amplifier portfolios continue to offer GaAs-based solutions covering forward and reverse-path requirements.

GaN MMICs represent the more strategic growth area. Their estimated 2026 share is 24.0%, with adoption supported by the need for higher power handling and improved efficiency in demanding network architectures. The technology is not expected to displace GaAs across the market. Instead, the two platforms are likely to coexist, with selection determined by frequency, power, linearity, thermal conditions, cost, and equipment design.

The remaining share comprises SiGe and other architectures, including application-specific approaches where integration, cost, or design flexibility is more important than maximum RF performance.

By Application

Application segmentation includes:

• Head-end and hub equipment
• HFC nodes
• Line extenders and distribution amplifiers
• Customer-premises equipment
• Other broadband access equipment

HFC nodes and distribution infrastructure form a particularly important demand pool because amplifier performance directly affects the quality and reach of signals across the outside plant.

Head-end applications typically place greater emphasis on signal integrity, gain stability, and multi-channel performance. Outside-plant equipment has additional requirements around thermal management, environmental durability, power consumption, and long service life.

Customer-premises applications are more volume-sensitive. Smaller integrated devices can be used in home gateways, drop amplifiers, and related broadband equipment. Current supplier offerings demonstrate that CATV MMICs are already being positioned for these types of applications.

By End User

The market can also be viewed through the organizations purchasing or integrating the technology:

• Cable and broadband operators
• Network equipment manufacturers
• Broadband access equipment integrators
• Contract electronics manufacturers
• CPE manufacturers
• Specialized RF equipment suppliers

Cable operators influence demand indirectly through network upgrade programs. Equipment manufacturers translate those requirements into amplifier specifications. This makes supplier relationships and qualification cycles especially important.

A device can have strong electrical specifications and still face a slow commercial ramp if it has not completed the required equipment qualification process. That is one reason established semiconductor suppliers retain an advantage in many mature CATV applications.

By Region

The regional structure is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA.

North America remains a major market because of its large HFC installed base and the active transition toward DOCSIS 4.0. The region is also important for MMIC design and qualification activity. CableLabs’ continuing interoperability and certification work reflects the importance of the North American ecosystem to next-generation cable technology.

Europe presents a mixed opportunity. Network architectures vary by country, but broadband demand, network modernization, and the need to improve capacity continue to support specialized RF component requirements.

Asia Pacific offers a broader manufacturing and deployment base. Demand is influenced by broadband expansion, electronics production, and modernization of cable and access infrastructure. The region is also strategically relevant to semiconductor supply chains.

LAMEA remains comparatively smaller but includes selected opportunities in cable broadband expansion, network upgrades, and replacement of aging active equipment.

Segmentation dimension	Major categories	Strategic focus
Product type	GaAs, GaN, SiGe/other	GaN adoption and continued GaAs demand
Application	Head-end, HFC nodes, line extenders, CPE	Higher-bandwidth active network equipment
End user	Operators, equipment OEMs, integrators, CPE makers	Qualification and long-term supply
Region	North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, LAMEA	North American upgrades; Asia Pacific expansion

The fastest-changing segment is likely to be the higher-performance amplifier category supporting expanded HFC spectrum. As operators move beyond legacy bandwidth configurations, amplifier designs must accommodate wider operating ranges without compromising linearity or reliability. CableLabs’ ongoing work toward optional DOCSIS spectrum extensions illustrates the direction of technical development, although adoption will vary by operator and network architecture.

For suppliers, this creates a two-track opportunity: defend the established GaAs business while developing higher-performance platforms that can serve network operators moving toward broader spectrum and greater capacity.

Market Trends and Business Innovations

Innovation in the Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market is being shaped by one central requirement: more network capacity without sacrificing signal quality or operational reliability.

The first major trend is the move toward wider operating bandwidth. Earlier CATV amplifier designs were often optimized around established downstream and upstream frequency allocations. Newer network architectures are pushing amplifier suppliers to extend those ranges while preserving gain flatness, linearity, noise performance, and efficiency.

This is visible in current commercial portfolios. MACOM, for example, offers 75-ohm CATV amplifier architectures covering reverse-path frequencies as well as forward-path operation up to 1.8 GHz. Mini-Circuits has also developed 75-ohm MMIC amplifier solutions covering CATV downstream and upstream applications.

The second trend is a greater focus on linearity. More channels and higher-order modulation place tighter demands on distortion performance. An amplifier that performs adequately in an older network may not provide the same margin in a higher-capacity environment. Suppliers therefore continue to optimize device structures, bias conditions, packaging, and application circuits around linearity and dynamic range.

GaAs remains important in this area. Its established performance profile and manufacturing maturity make it well suited to applications where operators prioritize predictable behavior and compatibility with existing designs. At the same time, GaN is attracting attention for applications where power density and efficiency become more important.

R&D Is Moving Toward System-Level Performance

Research and development is also becoming less focused on the amplifier as an isolated component. Suppliers increasingly need to understand how the MMIC behaves inside a node, line extender, gateway, or other broadband platform.

That changes the engineering priorities. Thermal characteristics, impedance matching, package parasitics, power consumption, and interaction with other RF components all become part of the design decision.

The evolution of DOCSIS provides a clear example. CableLabs’ recent interoperability work has demonstrated increasingly high throughput across multi-vendor DOCSIS 4.0 configurations. At the same time, CableLabs is examining spectrum expansion toward 3 GHz and researching longer-term HFC possibilities.

This does not mean every CATV amplifier will immediately move to these frequencies. Instead, it gives component developers a clear R&D direction. Future devices must leave more performance headroom than earlier generations.

Material and Packaging Innovation

Material innovation is relevant because RF performance is closely tied to semiconductor characteristics. GaAs continues to support high-frequency, low-noise, and linear amplification requirements. GaN provides another route where higher power density and efficiency are valuable.

Packaging is evolving alongside the semiconductor technology. Compact surface-mount packages can reduce board area and simplify equipment design, while thermal design becomes more important as power density rises. Current CATV MMIC products already demonstrate miniature packaging approaches aimed at broadband equipment and gateway applications.

AI is not a primary demand driver for this specific component market. The amplifier itself does not require AI to perform its core RF function. However, AI-enabled analytics can influence the wider cable network by helping operators identify degradation, optimize maintenance schedules, and analyze network performance. The direct revenue opportunity for CATV amplifier MMIC suppliers remains tied more closely to hardware modernization than to AI functionality.

Mergers, Partnerships and Industry Consolidation

Supplier strategy is another important part of the market’s evolution. In April 2024, Mini-Circuits acquired the CATV amplifier business of Analog Devices, including its 75-ohm GaAs and GaN amplifier portfolio and associated product-development team. Mini-Circuits said the transaction would support expansion of its CATV product line and established a new Santa Rosa MMIC design center around the acquired team.

The transaction is relevant because it shows how specialist RF suppliers are building scale around a relatively focused market. It also combines component expertise, product-development capability, and an established customer base.

At the broader ecosystem level, interoperability work is becoming a form of industry collaboration. DOCSIS 4.0 testing involves multiple suppliers and equipment categories, reducing the risk that next-generation cable networks become dependent on a single equipment architecture. CableLabs reported a 2025 interoperability event involving multiple vendors and later reported downstream demonstrations reaching approximately 16 Gbps.

Innovation area	Current direction	Likely business effect through 2035
Frequency bandwidth	Expansion toward higher operating ranges	New amplifier qualification requirements
Semiconductor technology	Continued GaAs use with growing GaN applications	More differentiated product portfolios
Linearity	Higher performance under dense channel loading	Greater design and testing complexity
Packaging	Smaller packages with stronger thermal considerations	More compact broadband equipment
Network architecture	DOCSIS 4.0, distributed access and expanded spectrum	Replacement and upgrade demand
Industry structure	Acquisitions and closer ecosystem collaboration	Broader portfolios and stronger supplier integration

The most important innovation may not be a single semiconductor breakthrough. It is the gradual redesign of the entire RF path around higher bandwidth, better linearity, and more efficient operation. Suppliers that can align MMIC performance with the practical needs of upgraded HFC equipment will be better positioned to participate in the next investment cycle.

For the Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market, this means innovation should be assessed at both the device and network levels. A technically advanced MMIC has limited commercial value if it cannot meet the qualification, packaging, thermal, cost, and interoperability requirements of the equipment into which it is integrated.

Competitive Intelligence and Benchmarking

The competitive structure of the Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market is shaped by a relatively focused group of RF semiconductor companies. Competition centers on frequency coverage, linearity, gain stability, power efficiency, thermal performance, package design, and long-term supply reliability. As cable operators move toward higher-capacity networks, suppliers are also being assessed on their ability to support newer HFC architectures rather than only legacy CATV applications.

Qorvo

Qorvo has a broad RF semiconductor portfolio with strong exposure to CATV amplification. Its solutions cover broadband amplification requirements for network nodes, line amplifiers, cable modems, gateways, and related access equipment. The company’s position is supported by experience in GaAs-based RF technologies and its ability to develop devices for demanding linearity and bandwidth requirements.

Its strategic focus is increasingly aligned with higher-frequency CATV infrastructure. The shift toward wider HFC spectrum could allow Qorvo to expand its role beyond replacement components into next-generation network upgrades.

MACOM Technology Solutions

MACOM Technology Solutions maintains a dedicated CATV amplifier portfolio covering forward and reverse-path applications. Its technology base includes GaAs-based broadband amplification designed around low distortion, high linearity, stable gain, and long operating life.

The company benefits from a mature position in specialized RF components. Its portfolio is relevant to head-end equipment, HFC nodes, distribution amplifiers, line extenders, and other broadband infrastructure. The ability to address multiple points within the RF signal chain gives MACOM a diversified position within the CATV component ecosystem.

Mini-Circuits

Mini-Circuits has expanded its CATV presence through its broad RF component business and the acquisition of a dedicated CATV amplifier business in 2024. The transaction strengthened its access to 75-ohm GaAs and GaN amplifier technologies and expanded its internal design capabilities.

The company’s competitive advantage comes from the combination of MMIC development, RF components, packaging, and distribution. This creates opportunities to supply broader component sets rather than individual amplifier devices.

Its growing CATV portfolio could make it increasingly relevant as operators replace multiple generations of active network equipment.

Broadcom

Broadcom occupies a broader position across the cable semiconductor ecosystem. Its relevance extends beyond individual amplifier MMICs into DOCSIS chipsets, access-network components, and system-level architectures.

This gives the company influence over how next-generation cable networks are designed. Its participation in higher-capacity DOCSIS development also places it close to decisions involving nodes, smart amplifiers, modems, and network processing.

Rather than competing solely on an individual MMIC specification, Broadcom’s strength is its ability to connect semiconductor technology with the wider cable platform.

Skyworks Solutions

Skyworks Solutions has experience across broadband RF, semiconductor devices, and integrated amplifier technologies. Its CATV-related capabilities have included high-linearity amplification and RF solutions for cable modems, gateways, and other broadband equipment.

The company’s broader RF exposure gives it access to multiple communications markets. Within CATV, its opportunity is more concentrated around specialized applications and equipment requiring compact, integrated RF solutions.

Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology maintains a diversified RF and microwave semiconductor portfolio that includes MMIC amplifiers, gain blocks, drivers, low-noise devices, and other RF components.

Its CATV relevance is more selective than that of suppliers with dedicated cable portfolios. However, its broad RF engineering base provides a foundation for applications where high-frequency performance, integration, and reliable semiconductor supply are important.

Analog Devices

Analog Devices has historically been an important participant in the CATV amplifier ecosystem through its RF semiconductor technologies. Its former CATV amplifier business included GaAs and GaN-based 75-ohm technologies.

Following the transfer of that business in 2024, its direct position in the CATV amplifier segment changed. However, the transaction remains strategically important because it demonstrates consolidation within the specialized RF component market and the value placed on established CATV amplifier technology.

Company	Portfolio focus	Market position	Strategic emphasis
Qorvo	Broadband RF and CATV amplification	Strong specialized RF position	Higher bandwidth and next-generation HFC
MACOM Technology Solutions	GaAs broadband amplifier technologies	Established CATV supplier	Linearity, bandwidth and reliability
Mini-Circuits	CATV MMICs and broader RF components	Expanding CATV presence	Portfolio expansion and integrated RF supply
Broadcom	Cable semiconductors and DOCSIS ecosystem	Strong system-level position	Higher-capacity cable architectures
Skyworks Solutions	RF and broadband semiconductor solutions	Diversified RF participant	Compact and integrated RF applications
Microchip Technology	MMIC and microwave components	Broad RF supplier	High-frequency and specialized applications
Analog Devices	Former CATV amplifier portfolio	Historical/indirect relevance	Technology transferred to Mini-Circuits

The competitive landscape is moving from a simple component comparison toward a broader question: which suppliers can help equipment manufacturers handle wider bandwidth without adding excessive complexity, power consumption, or cost?

Regional Landscape and Adoption Outlook

Regional demand for the Community Antenna Television (CATV) Amplifier Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) Market varies considerably because broadband infrastructure differs from one country to another. The United States has a substantial installed HFC base and a strong upgrade cycle. Europe presents a mixed cable-and-fiber environment. China, India, Japan, and South Korea have large broadband markets, but fiber increasingly accounts for new fixed-access investment.

United States

The United States is expected to remain the most strategically important national market through 2035.

The country has a large installed HFC network and several major cable operators with significant infrastructure footprints. Network operators are upgrading capacity through higher-split configurations, node segmentation, distributed access architectures, and DOCSIS 4.0.

This creates direct demand for higher-performance amplifier components. Existing equipment cannot always support broader frequency ranges and increased channel density without component-level changes.

The United States also has a mature semiconductor and broadband equipment ecosystem. This supports faster product qualification and closer collaboration between component suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and cable operators.

Country-level outlook: United States — high-value market driven by HFC modernization and next-generation DOCSIS deployment.

Europe

Europe represents a more fragmented opportunity. Cable infrastructure remains important in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and parts of Central Europe. However, fiber deployment is advancing rapidly.

Germany is particularly relevant because of its large cable footprint and ongoing network modernization. The Netherlands also remains important due to its established cable infrastructure and continued investment in higher-capacity broadband.

The main issue for CATV amplifier suppliers is the competition between HFC upgrades and FTTH expansion. Operators must decide whether to extend the useful life of coaxial infrastructure or replace portions of the access network with fiber.

Country-level outlook: Germany and Netherlands — important cable modernization markets, although fiber investment limits long-term HFC expansion.

China

China has one of the world’s largest broadband infrastructure bases, but the opportunity for CATV amplifier MMICs is constrained by the country’s strong preference for fiber-based fixed access.

Large-scale FTTH deployment reduces the need for new HFC infrastructure. As a result, CATV amplifier demand is more likely to originate from existing systems, specialized applications, equipment replacement, and selected RF infrastructure.

China nevertheless remains important from a manufacturing perspective. Its electronics supply chain, semiconductor ecosystem, component production capacity, and equipment manufacturing base can influence the broader cost and availability structure of RF components.

Country-level outlook: China — large technology and manufacturing ecosystem with selective CATV infrastructure demand.

India

India has a sizeable cable television ecosystem and a rapidly expanding broadband market. However, fiber is increasingly becoming the preferred platform for new fixed broadband connections.

The opportunity for CATV amplifier MMIC suppliers is therefore likely to come from modernization of existing cable systems rather than large-scale greenfield HFC construction.

Regional cable operators and multi-system operators remain relevant in areas where existing coaxial networks provide a practical route for television and broadband services. Cost sensitivity will remain important. Suppliers offering reliable devices that can extend the useful life of installed equipment may find stronger adoption than suppliers focused exclusively on premium specifications.

Country-level outlook: India — selective growth opportunity supported by cable-network upgrades, replacement demand, and regional broadband expansion.

Japan

Japan has a mature telecommunications infrastructure with extensive fiber availability. CATV networks continue to serve specific regional markets, but the opportunity for large-scale new CATV amplifier deployment is limited.

Demand is more closely linked to replacement, network optimization, and incremental capacity improvements. High reliability and long operating life remain important because operators generally have little incentive to undertake unnecessary changes to mature infrastructure.

Country-level outlook: Japan — mature, replacement-oriented market.

South Korea

South Korea also has a highly developed broadband ecosystem. Fiber and advanced fixed-access technologies limit the need for large-scale HFC expansion.

CATV amplifier demand is concentrated around existing cable networks, equipment replacement, broadband gateways, and specialized RF applications. The market favors compact, efficient, and highly reliable components.

Country-level outlook: South Korea — mature market with targeted upgrade opportunities.

Middle East

The Middle East is relevant primarily through selected broadband and hospitality applications. Many new broadband projects favor fiber, reducing the addressable market for new HFC infrastructure.

That said, established cable systems, large hospitality properties, managed networks, and specialized distribution infrastructure can generate localized demand for CATV amplification.

Country-level outlook: selective opportunity rather than a primary global demand center.

Regional Comparison

Country / region	CATV/HFC infrastructure	Fiber competition	Investment profile	Market outlook
United States	Large installed base	High	Strong private-sector network investment	High-value upgrade market
Europe	Established but fragmented	Very high	Cable modernization + FTTH	Selective growth
China	Limited relative to fiber	Very high	Large infrastructure investment	Specialized opportunity
India	Significant cable ecosystem	Rapidly increasing	Broadband expansion and modernization	Selective growth
Japan	Mature CATV networks	Very high	Replacement and optimization	Stable niche demand
South Korea	Mature cable infrastructure	Very high	Advanced broadband investment	Niche opportunity
Middle East	Selective cable infrastructure	High	Project-based investment	Targeted applications

The key regional variable is not the number of broadband subscribers. It is the technology carrying those subscribers. This distinction explains why markets with similar broadband growth can produce very different opportunities for CATV amplifier MMIC suppliers.

Recent Developments + Opportunities & Restraints

Recent Developments

September 2024 — Broadcom, Charter Communications and Comcast announced a Unified DOCSIS development initiative. The companies outlined a next-generation chipset approach covering network nodes, smart amplifiers, and cable modems. The architecture was designed to support higher-capacity DOCSIS networks and future spectrum expansion.

April 2024 — Mini-Circuits acquired a CATV amplifier business from Analog Devices. The transaction included established 75-ohm GaAs and GaN amplifier technologies and an associated engineering team. The deal strengthened Mini-Circuits’ position in CATV amplification and expanded its development capabilities.

November 2024 — Multi-vendor DOCSIS 4.0 interoperability activity advanced. Industry participants continued testing network equipment across different vendor platforms, focusing on interoperability, performance, reliability, and power efficiency. This supported the broader transition from laboratory development toward commercial deployment.

March 2025 — DOCSIS 4.0 interoperability testing placed greater emphasis on speed and network stability. The continued testing cycle highlighted the need for coordinated improvements across nodes, amplifiers, access equipment, modems, and network-control systems.

August 2025 — Multi-vendor DOCSIS 4.0 testing demonstrated approximately 16 Gbps downstream performance. The result illustrated the increasing technical headroom of upgraded HFC networks and reinforced the need for RF components capable of operating across broader bandwidths.

Opportunities & Business Insights

1. Higher-bandwidth HFC modernization

The movement toward wider frequency allocations creates an opportunity for MMIC suppliers with strong linearity, gain stability, and power-handling characteristics. Existing HFC networks can be upgraded in stages, creating demand for new amplifier components without requiring complete network replacement.

2. Smart monitoring and network automation

AI is not expected to become a core feature of the amplifier semiconductor itself. Its more practical role is at the network-management level.

Automated anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, power optimization, and remote network diagnostics can help operators identify failing equipment and optimize field operations. This may indirectly support demand for smarter active-network equipment.

3. Retrofit and replacement solutions

A large installed base creates a recurring replacement opportunity. Operators can selectively upgrade amplifiers, nodes, line extenders, and other active components instead of rebuilding entire access networks.

Suppliers that can offer compatible devices with improved bandwidth and efficiency may benefit from this approach.

Restraints

The largest structural restraint is the continued expansion of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). Where fiber economics are favorable, operators may direct new capital toward optical access rather than extending or upgrading HFC infrastructure.

Another challenge is the long qualification cycle for carrier-grade RF components. Reliability requirements are high, and operators are often reluctant to introduce a new semiconductor into critical network equipment without extensive testing.

Cost is also becoming more important. Higher-frequency and higher-performance MMICs can increase device and system costs. Suppliers therefore need to improve performance without making upgrades uneconomical for operators.