The Global Market for Software Defined Radio (SDR) is Forecast to Reach US$34.8 Billion by 2022

Growing Value of Cross Functionality in Radio Communications Drives the Global Market for Software Defined Radio (SDR), According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

GIA launches comprehensive analysis of industry segments, trends, growth drivers, market share, size and demand forecasts on the global Software Defined Radio (SDR) market. The global market for Software Defined Radio (SDR) is forecast to reach US$34.8 billion by 2022, driven by the growing business and operational value of cross functionality in radio communications which has traditionally been limited by traditional hardware components.

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is defined as a radio wherein all physical layer functions are software defined. SDR operates on software-defined wireless communication protocols rather than hardwired implementations. This allows users to upgrade the air interface protocol, functionality and frequency band by simply downloading and updating the software instead of replacing the hardware. Being software-configurable, SDR software updates are implemented via modifiable firmware or software. SDRs are built upon processing technologies such as digital signal processors (DSP), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), programmable System on Chip (SoC), general purpose processors (GPP), or any other programmable, application-specific processors. A primary benefit of SDRs is cost effectiveness. Since traditional radios are hardware-based, production costs tend to be higher with high flexibility issues when support for multiple waveform standards was required. In contrast, software-defined radio is a comparatively inexpensive and more efficient technology solution, allowing multi-band, multi-functional, and multimode wireless devices, which can be optimized using software upgrades. Additionally, SDR delivers protected wireless nodes that connect different devices simultaneously, providing excellent low-latency, point-to-point wireless connections.

The growth in the market is forecast to benefit from expanding applications in a range of industries such as aerospace, automotive, public safety, military, wireless LAN/WAN, homeland security, military & commercial satellites, telecommunications, transportation, short range communication, and cellular handsets and base stations. True to the adage “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”, SDRs were developed in response to pressing needs military sector for flexible communication devices interoperable with multiple platforms. The technology since then has made huge progress with applications expanding to commercial and industrial markets. The military sector however continues to remain a dominant market for SDRs given the growing participation of countries in peace keeping mission for international resolution of conflicts and the resulting need for communication interoperability in highly inaccessible places across the globe. Growing focus on military modernization and upgrades for military communication equipment including investments on Joint Tactical Radio (JTR) Radios and demand for network-centric warfare enabling solutions will sustain growth in the military sector. In the commercial sector, companies are increasingly focused on innovating and building SDR technology into existing wireless solutions and products. Continuous technology developments will witness SDRs rapidly replace hardwired radio systems. The substitution trend is fostered by the ability of SDRs to enable multi-tasking through a radio system based on an open-architecture software, which reduces the use of multiple systems, as SDR technology extends the utility of the system to a broad array of applications employing various link-layer protocols and techniques.

As stated by the new market research report on Software Defined Radio (SDR), the United States represents the largest market worldwide. Asia-Pacific ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 16.8% over the analysis period led by factors such as strong economic growth; growing military spending in China, India and other East Asian countries; rise in infrastructure spending and the resulting need for SDR based Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems in public works projects; growing commitment among companies to build a robust safety culture by continuous measurement, assessment and adaptation and the ensuing rise in demand for SDR based radio systems for emergency and critical communications in commercial and industrial sectors; development of telecom infrastructure including evolution of wireless radio base stations towards SDR based architecture.

Major players in the market include Array Systems Computing Inc., BAE Systems PLC, Bharat Electronics Limited, Datasoft Corporation, Elbit Systems Ltd., Epiq Solutions LLC, Ettus Research, FlexRadio Systems Inc., Harris Corporation, Microtelecom Srl, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rockwell Collins Inc., Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG, SDRplay, Signalscape Inc., Thales Defense & Security Inc., and ViaSat Inc., among others.

The research report titled “Software Defined Radio (SDR): A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities of global companies.  The single segment report provides market estimates and projections for all major geographic markets such as the USA, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World.

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