Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Filters Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising implementation of wireless systems in SAW filters: Semiconductor manufacturers are concentrating on producing affordable, secure, and high-performing SAW filters. Mobile phones and wireless connectivity have grown to be mainstream consumer products. SAW filters are typically utilized for filtering RF signals in the lower frequency range, up to various gigahertz. For instance, according to the Wireless Infrastructure Association in March 2023, the wireless and mobile industry in the U.S. spent USD 11 billion on fabricating additional capacity. These factors are propelling the growth of the market during the assessed period.
   
• Rising adoption of 5G network: Several chip makers are attracted to the growing development of telecommunication infrastructure in developing economies. One of the most recent technological developments in telecommunications is the deployment of a next-generation 5G network. Surface acoustic wave filters render high-performance frequency selection, effectively filtering and selecting signals from other frequency bands. This procedure helps ensure smooth communication between devices while suppressing interference. It has been estimated that the global 5G connections number reached 2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach 7.7 billion by 2028.
   
• Expansion of the Internet of Things: According to the European Commission in 2021, almost 48% of large enterprises and 26% of small enterprises used the Internet of Things. SAW sensors have gained great attention in various IoT applications. The novel technology of the embedded transducer approach allows the SAW device to transmit signals at higher speeds than commercially used devices.
   
• SAW applications in biosensing applications: SAW-based sensors have become popular for monitoring cell mechanics. These techniques are not only cost-efficient and versatile but also render an in-depth analysis of detected materials. According to the National Institutes of Health in 2023, surface acoustic wave biosensors have gained attention as efficacious solutions to conduct blood measurements in less than 3 minutes.

Challenges

• SAW filter is complex to manufacture: SAW filter manufacturers face challenges that require high specialization, reliable technology, and various integration tools due to the intricacy of these advanced devices. Development is a difficult process that demands specialized equipment. Therefore, one of the main factors that could hinder market growth is the complexity involved in the manufacturing of SAW filters. Also, the lower switching speed due to the complexity of the control algorithm's design affects the overall performance.
   
• Relatively high insertion loss: The insertion loss is the power loss when the signal passes through the filter. Also, there is a high recurring unit cost associated with the device acting as a growth-impeding factor.