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Communications Semiconductor Market Share 2019 Published April 2020 Authors: Bob Wheeler Corporate License: $5,995 |
Market Research From The Industry Experts
"Communications Semiconductor Market Share 2019" provides all-new market share data for semiconductors used in communications, including Ethernet products, FPGAs, and processors.
The report provides the detailed market information needed to sort out the dynamics of this market. With this report, chip vendors, investors, and OEMs will readily see which companies are the leading suppliers in a given product market, how these companies' standings have changed over the past year, how big the mature product markets are, and how fast the emerging categories are growing.
Semiconductor product categories covered in the report include Ethernet switch, controller, and PHY components, as well as Ethernet adapters (NICs). For server and embedded processors, we capture all revenue and then segment by application. Similarly, we segment FPGA revenue into communications, data-center, and other applications. Among the scores of companies covered are broad-based suppliers, such as Broadcom and Intel, as well as segment-specific vendors such as Inphi and Xilinx.
The report includes a brief text summary providing analysis of the data and a set of market share tables for many product categories and application segments. Companies purchasing a corporate license also receive the tables in Microsoft Excel form.
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This report is written for:
- Product managers and executives seeking to assess the performance of their product lines over the past year or to identify areas in which to invest or divest
- Strategic sourcing professionals and engineers at OEMs and operators seeking information about semiconductor suppliers
- Investors and financial analysts seeking data to support investment decisions
What's New in this Edition
- Now includes port-shipment share for 50G Ethernet adapters (NICs) and controllers.
- Now includes port-shipment share for 100G Ethernet adapters (NICs) and controllers.
- Now includes FPGA segment breakouts for data-center and automotive applications.
- Provides 2019 market share data for many product categories and segments, including Ethernet products, FPGAs, embedded processors and server processors.
In this, our 15th annual market-share report, we restructured our product taxonomy to better match vendors' segmentation and provide additional granularity. Our coverage focuses on processors, Ethernet ASSPs and adapters, and FPGAs.
Server and Embedded Processors
We now combine server and embedded processors into a single top-level category, as some vendors do not track which type of processor a customer uses. We divide total server/embedded revenue into three application segments: the server segment captures sales to server OEMs as well as direct sales to cloud service providers or their ODM suppliers; the networking segment comprises sales to network-equipment vendors as well as ODMs supplying communications service providers; industrial and IoT includes all other embedded-processor applications.
In 2019, the overall market for server and embedded processors grew a modest 4.3%. Due to its server dominance, Intel controls 89% of the total market. In contrast, the number-two vendor, NXP, serves only the embedded market. Its 2019 revenue was relatively flat, outperforming its pure-play-embedded peers. Like Intel, third-place AMD sells its x86 processors into both servers and embedded designs. Its Epyc processors drove outstanding growth in 2019 led by servers, propelling it from fifth place in 2018.
Having acquired Cavium in 2018, fourth-place Marvell primarily serves networking applications. Its processors include the former-Cavium Octeon and ThunderX lines as well as its existing Armada line. The bulk of fifth-place Broadcom's embedded-processor revenue comes from its StrataGX Arm processors. Other active vendors we track include Mellanox (now Nvidia), Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments.
Ethernet ASSPs and NICs
We divide Ethernet ASSPs into product categories using data rate and product type rather than end application. Because OEMs and data-center operators often consume Ethernet controllers as add-in cards instead of chips, we also track board-level products (NICs and mezzanine cards). We exclude board-level revenue from our ASSP totals.
The total market for Ethernet ICs contracted 5.8% in 2019. The standard for PC connections, Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) components fell to 32% of sales, whereas 10G Ethernet (10GbE) ICs remained the largest revenue contributor at 37% of the total. Note this category includes chips used in 40G Ethernet switch systems, as the same chips service 10GbE and 40GbE designs. Much of the remainder came from sales of 25G, 50G, and 100G Ethernet chips, which contributed 16% of 2019 revenue.
With 59% share, Broadcom is undisputedly the overall leading supplier of Ethernet ASSPs. The top-ranked vendor underperformed the overall market in 2019, losing a small amount of share. It leads 1Gbps, 10Gbps, and 100Gbps Ethernet switch categories.
Second-place Intel gained share thanks to growth in 10Gbps-and-above controller sales. It is also the leading vendor of 10G Ethernet adapters (NICs). It acquired Barefoot Networks in 2019, adding 100G Ethernet switches.
Marvell is third overall but holds second place in many segments with particular strength in enterprise networks. It gained a NIC business through its 2018 Cavium acquisition, whereas Aquantia strengthened its PHY business in 2019.
Inphi moved into our fourth spot thanks to its lead in 100G Ethernet PHYs. It is also a major supplier of optical-interface ICs such as TIAs and drivers. Fifth-place Realtek supplies Gigabit Ethernet chips for Wi-Fi routers and PCs.
FPGAs
FPGAs include most modern programmable logic devices (PLDs), which are based on lookup tables (LUTs). They span a broad cost and power range depending on application. We track FPGA revenue by application segment. In this edition, we added two new application breakouts to provide greater FPGA-market granularity: data center and automotive. We also break out the communications segment, including wireless and networking infrastructure. Other applications include test, measurement, emulation, broadcast, consumer, industrial, medical, aerospace, and defense.
The overall FPGA market reached $5.7 billion in 2019, growing 4.2% over a record 2018. The communications segment posted the strongest growth, whereas the data-center segment contracted. Automotive grew, but it remains the smallest segment we track. Top-ranked Xilinx outperformed the overall market, whereas second-place Intel lost share. Microchip (formerly Microsemi) placed third, closely trailed by Lattice.
| List of Figures |
| List of Tables |
| About the Authors |
| About the Publisher |
| Executive Summary |
| 1 Introduction |
| Product Categorization |
| Server and Embedded Processors Use |
| Ethernet ASSPs |
| FPGAs |
| Report Organization |
| 2 Processors |
| Integrated Base Station Processors |
| 3 Ethernet |
| All Ethernet ICs |
| 25G/50G/100G Ethernet Switch and PHY Chips |
| 10G/40G Ethernet Switch and PHY Chips |
| 10G Ethernet Controller ICs |
| Gigabit Ethernet Switch ICs and Multiport PHYs |
| Gigabit Ethernet Controller ICs and Single-Port PHYs |
| Fast Ethernet Switch, PHY, and Controller ICs |
| Optical-Interface ICs |
| 10G Ethernet NICs |
| 25G-and-Above Ethernet NICs |
| Smart NICs |
| 4 FPGAs |
| 5 Methodology and Accounting |
| Methodology |
| Accounting Rules |
| 6 Revisions |
| New Companies |
| Revised Estimates |
| Figure 1‑1. Processor Taxonomy |
| Figure 1‑2. Etherent-ASSP Taxonomy |
| Figure 1‑3. FPGA Taxonomy |
| Figure 2‑1. Worldwide revenue market share of the top five server/embedded-processor vendors |
| Figure 2‑2. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of merchant server processors |
| Figure 2‑3. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four processor vendors for networking |
| Figure 2‑4. Worldwide revenue market share of the top five processor vendors for industrial and IoT |
| Figure 2‑5. Worldwide revenue market share of the top three vendors of integrated base-station processors |
| Figure 3‑1. Worldwide revenue market share of the top five vendors of all Ethernet ICs |
| Figure 3‑2. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of 100G Ethernet switch chips |
| Figure 3‑3. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of 100G Ethernet PHY chips |
| Figure 3‑4. Worldwide revenue market share of the top three vendors of 10G Ethernet switch chips |
| Figure 3‑5. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of 10G optical PHY |
| Figure 3‑6. Worldwide revenue market share of the top three vendors of 10GBase T PHY |
| Figure 3‑7. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four vendors of 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller chips |
| Figure 3‑8. Worldwide port-shipment market of the top four vendors of 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller chip |
| Figure 3‑9. Worldwide revenue market share of the top five vendors of Gigabit Ethernet switch ICs and multi-port PHYs |
| Figure 3‑10. Worldwide revenue market share of the top three vendors of GbE controller ICs and single-port PHYs |
| Figure 3‑11. Worldwide revenue of the top three vendors of Fast Ethernet switch, PHY, controller ICs |
| Figure 3‑12. Worldwide revenue market share of the top five vendors of optical-interface ICs |
| Figure 3‑13. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four vendors of 10G Ethernet NICs |
| Figure 3‑14. Worldwide unit-shipment market share of the top four vendors of 10G Ethernet NICs |
| Figure 3‑15. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four vendors of 25G Ethernet NICs |
| Figure 3‑16. Worldwide port-shipment market share of the top four vendors of 25G Ethernet NICs |
| Figure 3‑17. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of 40G Ethernet NICs |
| Figure 3‑18. Worldwide port-shipment market share of the top two vendors of 40G Ethernet NICs |
| Figure 3‑19. Worldwide port-shipment market share of the top two vendors of 50G Ethernet NICs and controller chips |
| Figure 3‑20. Worldwide port-shipment market share of the top two vendors of 100G Ethernet NICs and controller chips |
| Figure 3‑21. Worldwide revenue market share of the top 3 vendors of smart NICs |
| Figure 4‑1. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four vendors of FPGAs |
| Figure 4‑2. Worldwide revenue market share of the top five vendors of FPGAs for use in communications systems |
| Figure 4‑3. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four vendors of FPGAs for use in data centers |
| Figure 4‑4. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of FPGAs for use in automotive applications |
| Figure 4‑5. Worldwide revenue market share of the top four vendors of FPGAs for use in other applications |
| Table 2‑1. Worldwide revenue of the top five server/embedded-processor vendors |
| Table 2‑2. Worldwide revenue of the top two vendors of merchant server processors |
| Table 2‑3. Worldwide revenue of the top four processor vendors for networking |
| Table 2‑4. Worldwide revenue of the top five processor vendors for industrial and IoT |
| Table 2‑5. Worldwide revenue of the top three vendors of integrated base-station processors |
| Table 3‑1. Worldwide revenue of the top five vendors of all Ethernet ICs |
| Table 3‑2. Worldwide revenue of the top two vendors of 100G Ethernet switch chips |
| Table 3‑3. Worldwide revenue market share of the top two vendors of 100G Ethernet PHY chips |
| Table 3‑4. Worldwide revenue market share of the top three vendors of 10G Ethernet switch chips |
| Table 3‑5. Worldwide revenue of the top two vendors of 10G optical PHY |
| Table 3‑6. Worldwide revenue of the top three vendors of 10GBase-T PHY |
| Table 3‑7. Worldwide revenue of the top four vendors of 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller chips |
| Table 3‑8. Worldwide port shipments of the top four vendors of 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller chips |
| Table 3‑9. Worldwide revenue of the top five vendors of Gigabit Ethernet switch ICs and multi-port PHYs |
| Table 3‑10. Worldwide revenue of the top three vendors of GbE controller ICs and single-port PHYs |
| Table 3‑11. Worldwide revenue of the top three vendors of Fast Ethernet switch, PHY, controller ICs |
| Table 3‑12. Worldwide revenue of the top five vendors of optical-interface ICs |
| Table 3‑13. Worldwide revenue of the top four vendors of 10G Ethernet NICs |
| Table 3‑14. Worldwide port shipments of the top four vendors of 10G Ethernet NICs |
| Table 3‑15. Worldwide revenue of the top four vendors of 25G Ethernet NICs |
| Table 3‑16. Worldwide port shipments of the top four vendors of 25G Ethernet NICs |
| Table 3‑17. Worldwide revenue of the top two vendors of 40G Ethernet NICs |
| Table 3‑18. Worldwide port shipments of the top two vendors of 40G Ethernet NICs |
| Table 3‑19. Worldwide port shipments of the top two vendors of 50G Ethernet NICs and controller chips |
| Table 3‑20. Worldwide port shipments of the top two vendors of 100G Ethernet NICs and controller chips |
| Table 3‑21. Worldwide revenue of the top three vendors of smart NICs |
| Table 4‑1. Worldwide revenue of the top four vendors of FPGAs |
| Table 4‑2. Worldwide revenue of the top five vendors of FPGAs for use in communications systems |
| Table 4‑3. Worldwide revenue of the top four vendors of FPGAs for use in data centers |
| Table 4‑4. Worldwide revenue of the top two vendors of FPGAs for use in automotive applications |
| Table 4‑5. Worldwide revenue of the top four vendors of FPGAs for use in other applications |
| Table 5‑4. Worldwide revenue of the top five vendors of PON interface ICs |
| Table 5‑5. Worldwide revenue of the top two vendors of cable-modem ICs |