REPORT SCOPE
INTRODUCTION
RADIO FREQUENCY TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS
RF technologies use electromagnetic radiation or energy in the 15 kHz to 300 GHz range to accomplish a wide range of objectives, including broadcasting, two-way communication, manufacturing applications, and security and access control, to name only a few. This study is an update of a BCC Research report, first published in 2003, that describes and analyzes the market for seven “emerging” radio frequency (RF) technologies, including digital TV and radio, advanced cellular communications, wireless networking, the global positioning system (GPS), radio frequency identification (RFID), and RF plasma surface treatment.
STUDY BACKGROUND
The RF technologies covered in the 2003 BCC report have continued to grow, to the point where they can no longer be considered “emerging” technologies. However, their extremely favorable growth prospects continue to set them apart from older, more mature RF technologies, such as radiotelephone or analog TV broadcasting, whose markets are growing more slowly or not at all. BCC therefore believes that an updated market assessment is called for.
The economic importance of these seven RF technologies extends far beyond sales of equipment and related professional services. They support and make possible entire sectors of the economy, such as the wireless telecommunications industry. The services these sectors provide to end users are crucial to the efficient functioning of a modern economy.
RF technology is important not only from an economic standpoint but from regulatory, health, environmental, and national security perspectives as well. The increasing demand for RF bandwidth forces telecommunications regulators to consider ways of meeting the demand by opening new frequencies to the private sector and using regulatory or market mechanisms to allocate the available bandwidth among competing classes of users.
There are widespread concerns about the potential human health impacts of extensive exposure to RF emissions, such as a possible link between cell phone use and the incidence of brain cancer. While definitive evidence of cancer or other health impacts of RF exposure has not yet been found, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has established international guidelines on human exposure limits for RF fields. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other governmental agencies have also issued RF exposure guidelines of their own.
In addition to concerns about the human health impacts of RF emissions, there are the environmental issues. The latter range from the esthetic impacts of nearly ubiquitous cell phone towers to the potential adverse effects of low-level RF on wildlife and birds.
Finally, RF technologies are an increasingly important component of national security. Modern military doctrine blends information technology and wireless communications to create capabilities never seen before on the battlefield. The RF spectrum has been compared with fuel, water, and ammunition, without which tactical operations are not possible.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Despite their potential importance, no recent, comprehensive analysis of the fastest-growing RF technologies and applications is available. This report is intended to satisfy the need for an objective, quantitative analysis that addresses these technologies in the context of the overall RF market. More specific objectives are to accomplish the following:
- Identify the principal applications of these seven RF technologies, including applications that are expected to be commercialized in the 2010 through 2015 time frame
- Quantify and analyze historical (2009) sales of each RF application
- Identify and evaluate the impact of economic, business, demographic, technological, legal/regulatory, and other factors that will drive the future market for each of these applications
- Forecast future (through 2015) sales of each application, including applications that have not been fully commercialized
- Highlight the importance of these rapidly growing technologies to the RF industry as a whole
- Analyze the economic, business, regulatory, environmental, health, and other macro issues raised by projected trends in the size and structure of the RF market
INTENDED AUDIENCE
The report has been written for the entire RF interest community, including the following:
- Manufacturers, distributors and vendors of RF equipment
- RF-oriented consultants and systems integrators
- Regulatory, health, environmental and other government agencies concerned with RF
- Researchers
- The financial and analyst communities
SCOPE OF REPORT
This report is an analytical business tool with the primary purpose of describing and analyzing the size and dynamics of the global market for selected RF technologies and applications. Major sections of the report cover the following topics:
- Summary of findings and conclusions
- Overview of the RF industry
- Rapidly growing RF technologies and applications
- Market size and segmentation
- Market drivers and constraints
- Detailed market projections by market segment, through 2015
- Long-term outlook for the RF industry
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this report. Findings and conclusions are based on information gathered from all types of participants in the RF market, including manufacturers, distributors, end users, consultants, and integrators. Interview data were combined with information gathered through an extensive review of secondary sources such as trade publications, trade associations, company literature, and online databases to produce the baseline market estimates contained in this report.
With 2009 as a baseline, market projections for each market segment were developed for the period through 2015. The projections are based on a combination of a consensus among the primary contacts combined with our understanding of the key market drivers and their impact from a historical and analytical perspective. The analytical methodologies used to generate the market estimates are described in detail in the chapter on Detailed Market Estimates and Projections, 2009 to 2015.
All dollar projections presented in this report are in 2009 constant dollars.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
Andrew McWilliams, the author of this report, is a partner in the Boston-based international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel, LLC. He is also the author of numerous other BCC Research studies, including several that analyze various RF products and applications, such as the recent report, IAS020B RFID: Technology, Applications, and Global Markets; SAS011B Global Mobile Positioning Markets: Commercial, Military, Homeland Defense; and the predecessor to this report, IFT057A Emerging RF Technologies.
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DISCLAIMER
The information developed in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal, or accounting advice; nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual, or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is speculative in nature. The authors assume no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the reported information or its use.
