Filtronic and RF Micro Devices ink PHEMT deal
RF Micro Devices (RFMD) and Filtronic have signed a high-volume supply agreement that will see the UK company become RFMD's number-one supplier of GaAs PHEMTs.
Filtronic will manufacture the components at its 6-inch wafer processing facility in Newton Aycliffe in the UK.
The PHEMTs will be incorporated into RFMD modules destined for cell phone handset and wireless LAN applications.
Handsets use PHEMTs to switch between different frequency bands and modes.
The two companies, who have been collaborating on the development and qualification of multi-throw switches, have already started pre-production manufacturing runs. Volume production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2005.
As well as having a huge GaAs manufacturing facility, Filtronic designs and manufactures microwave subsystems for both wireless telecom and defense applications.
