Paolo Fioravanti, CEO, Circuits Integrated Hellas

As we approach 2026, the radio-frequency (RF) segment of the semiconductor industry is entering a period of sustained growth¹, fueled by advanced 5G, non-terrestrial networks, satellite communications, and defense modernization.

Market forecasts project the global RF semiconductor market to nearly double by the early 2030s, reflecting strong long-term demand. Yet this growth also exposes a structural challenge: RF system architectures have not evolved at the same pace as the applications they serve.

Today's RF designs still rely heavily on planar, two-dimensional integration of discrete components. Power amplifiers, signal-processing logic, and control circuitry are typically placed side-by-side on a PCB and linked through wire bonds or long traces.

While incremental advances in gallium nitride (GaN) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) devices have improved performance, 2D layouts introduce parasitics that degrade signal integrity and waste power—limitations that become increasingly problematic at Ka-band and millimeter-wave frequencies.

The next change in RF performance will come from heterogeneous 3D integration.² Rather than forcing a single material to do everything, 3D architectures allow each technology to play to its strengths: GaAs for linear RF front ends, GaN for high power density, and silicon for complex control and beamforming logic.

By vertically stacking and tightly interconnecting these dies using advanced system-in-package approaches, engineers can dramatically shorten signal paths, reduce losses, and shrink system footprint. For RF systems where size, weight, and power are critical, particularly in satellite and phased-array applications, 3D integration is no longer optional—it is foundational.

References:

1. "RF Semiconductor Global Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019 – 2032." Fortune Business Insights, 2025, https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/rf-semiconductor-market-110167.

2. "Heterogeneous AiP/SiP for Satcom." Lourandakis, Errikos; Fioravanti, Paolo; Kontogiannopoulos, Giannis; and McMahon, Carl. Research Gate, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392228907_Heterogeneous_AiPSiP_for_Satcom.