Circuits Integrated Launches Ka-Band Integrated Switch Power Amplifiers

Why It Matters

By collapsing two critical RF front‑end functions into a single chip, CI‑ONE cuts cost, size and power consumption, directly supporting the rapid expansion of Ka‑band satellite services for 5G/6G, radar and defense markets.

Key Takeaways

• Integrated PA and SPDT reduces PCB area threefold
• Up to 50% cost reduction versus discrete components
• 5 ns switching enables agile 5G/6G satellite links
• Efficiency improves 25% with 22% PA efficiency at P1dB
• Ka‑band SPDT+PA market projected $1.3‑1.8 bn by 2035

Pulse Analysis

The Ka‑band spectrum has become a focal point for next‑generation satellite communications, offering the bandwidth needed for high‑throughput services that underpin 5G and emerging 6G networks. As operators launch larger constellations and demand more agile ground terminals, the industry is shifting toward highly integrated RF front‑ends that minimize footprint and simplify system design. Consolidating power amplification and switching functions not only reduces board real‑estate but also mitigates thermal challenges, accelerating time‑to‑market for new satellite payloads.

Circuits Integrated Hellas leverages a GaAs pHEMT process to deliver the CI‑ONE family, which supports three output‑power classes—30 dBm, 34 dBm and 36 dBm—covering 1 W to 4 W requirements. The modules operate from a 6 V supply and achieve a remarkable 5 ns switching time, enabling rapid beam‑steering and frequency‑hopping schemes essential for resilient Satcom links. With an efficiency of roughly 22% at the 1 dB compression point, the devices provide a solid power‑added efficiency baseline while maintaining low insertion loss, a critical factor for battery‑powered or space‑constrained platforms.

From a business perspective, the integrated approach aligns with a market projected to double in size, reaching up to $1.8 bn by 2035. CI‑ONE’s cost‑saving and performance advantages position Circuits Integrated Hellas to capture a significant share of the growing Ka‑band SPDT + PA segment, especially in high‑throughput satellite, maritime, in‑flight connectivity, defense and emergency response applications. The company’s recent expansion into the UK space cluster signals a strategic push toward high‑volume manufacturing, suggesting that CI‑ONE could become a standard building block for future satellite terminal designs.