CSA Catapult wins £4M to improve RF PAs
Innovate UK funding coincides with launch of Catapult’s Future Telecoms Hub in Bristol
The Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult has been awarded £4 million from Innovate UK to help deliver a resilient and energy efficient future telecoms network for the UK.
The funding will help expand CSA Catapult’s activities across the future telecoms landscape and develop new compound semiconductor technologies to improve the speed, energy efficiency and security of our communications networks.
The announcement, made in the Autumn Statement, coincides with the launch of CSA Catapult’s new Future Telecoms Hub, which was officially opened today by Sir John Whittingdale MP.
Funded through an initial £2.5 million investment by Innovate UK and based at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, the Future Telecoms Hub combines state-of-the-art equipment with leading expertise to test and develop new telecoms hardware made using compound semiconductors.
A priority of the Future Telecoms Hub will be to improve the performance of base station power amplifiers. Analysis from CSA Catapult has revealed that in a typical base station, power amplifiers can account for up to 80 percent of the power consumed. As base stations themselves account for over 70 percent of power consumption across the whole telecoms network, there is a sizeable opportunity to drastically increase energy efficiency by improving just a single device.
CSA Catapult analysis also shows that RF power amplifiers present one of the biggest market opportunities across the network, with the global market set to grow to $9 billion by 20252.
The Future Telecoms Hub will complement CSA Catapult’s existing operations at its headquarters in Newport, South Wales by providing closer access to a thriving telecoms ecosystem across Bristol and the South West that includes several major technology companies and research institutions.
Martin McHugh, CEO at CSA Catapult said: “We’re delighted to receive this additional funding from Innovate UK, which comes at a significant point in the Catapult’s journey as we open the doors to our new Future Telecoms Hub in Bristol.
“Bristol has an established network of innovative companies and research institutions located within and around the city, as well as strong links with partners across the Western Gateway, so it was a natural fit for us to place our future telecoms capability here.
“With the widespread adoption of 5G and our increasing dependence on connected technologies, the demand for safe, secure and reliable telecoms infrastructure has never been greater. The Future Telecoms Hub will enable our partners to bring new telecoms technologies to market and allow us to continue to build supply chains, increase investment in R&D and grow the UK economy.”
Innovate UK CEO Indro Mukerjee said: “As the national innovation agency, Innovate UK will make these strategic investments to enable innovative businesses to grow in the UK and deliver against some of the biggest global challenges. These investments are part of our core domain activities across Net Zero, Digital & Technologies and Healthy Living & Agriculture. They enhance national capability through our world-leading Catapults, and will be deployed across the UK.”
Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure,John Whittingdale, said: “Digital connectivity is the lifeblood of the future economy. Innovation that will take place in hubs like this in Bristol will open business opportunities, transform industries and drive economic growth around the world in the decades ahead.
“A stone’s throw from the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales, Innovate UK’s investment will drive forward British leadership in researching these advanced chips to unlock opportunity with future telecoms.”
