Challenge and opportunity in analog and RF electronics

Exponential growth of wireless communication market, for both voice and data, has driven the research and development of AMS (analog, mixed-signal) and RF electronics for the last decade with the help of ever-improving CMOS performance and sophisticated circuit design techniques. However as the market continues demanding products with even lower cost, higher frequencies, wider bandwidth, multiple standards, multiple frequency bands, lower power consumption and yet shorter TAT (turnaround time), the existing infrastructure and knowledge base for R&D faces several challenges. This paper discusses some of the challenges with respect to research of AMS (analog, mixed-signal) and RF electronics and address some of the future opportunities in this field.