CTRL+ALT+DEL: Restart 2020
We wrap up the year with a thoughtful post from Brent Dietz, who expresses how we all feel about 2020. He also has some good news, especially for the semiconductor industry. He thinks this past year feels like an age.
In this turbulent year, there are very few things that everyone can agree on, including a global pandemic, continued economic uncertainty, and a contentious US presidential election, but I think everyone can agree to press CTL+ALT+DEL to restart. Although our industry seems to have more resilience than most, no one I know is nostalgic for 2020.
According to the latest forecasts from SIA and WSTS , the semiconductor industry is expected to grow by about 5.1% this year and is expected to grow by about 8.1% in 2021. While the growth may seem small, it is very impressive compared to the 4.1% global economic decline predicted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2020.
As the world begins to adjust to the new normal, chipmakers are busy fulfilling orders for chips and chipsets to support the global deployment and adoption of 5G networks and smartphones, the launch of new Wi-Fi 6/6E systems, and anything related to Zoom meetings. In 2020, the semiconductor industry actually stepped up its pace to help us not only achieve secure connectivity, but also achieve secure isolation through ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for contact tracing.
Since the third quarter of 2019, the world has added 229 million 5G users, driving demand for chips for new 5G base stations and 5G smartphones. Today, 5G is the fastest growing mobile technology ever , with four times the penetration rate of 4G.
According to IDC, the consumer and enterprise WLAN market grew 12% in the third quarter of 2020 as Wi-Fi 6 became more popular. Even the International Space Station is undergoing WLAN transformation, which is contributing to the rapid development of the WLAN market.
UWB is a new technology in the semiconductor industry, recently introduced by Apple in the iPhone 12 and HomePad mini. UWB can significantly improve the speed, reliability, and accuracy of location services, including applications such as COVID-19 contact tracing/social distancing . UWB can achieve an accuracy of 1-2 cm and is 50 times faster than GPS. UWB is now helping to ensure the safety of athletes in the NFL, NBA, and NCAA, as well as employees at more than 200 companies through new wearable devices such as the Kinexon SafeZone.
Let’s applaud an industry that bucked the trend in 2020 and has been wearing masks for years (at least in semiconductor clean rooms). Let’s take off the rearview mirror and make a new year resolution for healthier and faster vaccination.
Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to welcome the brand new year 2021!
Latest Forecast
https://www.semiconductors.org/global-semiconductor-sales-increase-6-percent-year-to-year-in-october-annual-sales-projected-to-increase-5-1-percent-in-2020/
The fastest growing mobile technology ever
https://www.5gamericas.org/5g-is-the-fastest-growing-mobile-technology-in-history/
WLAN Transformation
https://www.wi-fi.org/beacon/chatwin-lansdowne/space-station-receives-first-truss-mounted-wi-fi-access-point
COVID-19 Contact Tracing/Social Distancing
https://www.qorvo.com/design-hub/blog/ultra-wideband-and-contact-tracing
Microwave Magazine
http://www.microwavejournal.com/
Brent's Thoughts
https://www.microwavejournal.com/blogs/22-brent-s-musings/post/35194-ctrlaltdel-2020
This article originally appeared on Microwave Magazine 's " Brent 's Musings " blog.
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