Anokiwave

What Anokiwave does

Anokiwave is a fabless semiconductor company founded in 1999 that designs highly integrated silicon CMOS millimeter-wave (mmW) integrated circuits for phased array active antenna systems. The company serves three primary markets: 5G communications (mmW infrastructure and fixed wireless access), satellite communications (SATCOM-on-the-move, LEO/MEO/GEO terminals), and Defense & Aerospace (radar, electronic warfare, communications). Core products include Beamformer ICs (BFICs), IF Up/Down Converter ICs, IF Transceiver ICs, intelligent gain blocks, and front-end ICs, covering frequencies from X-band through Ka-band and 24-43.5 GHz for 5G.

The company's underlying technology leverages 300mm CMOS manufacturing at GLOBALFOUNDRIES, which the company claims enables over 95% cost reduction over three generations and targets 50+ million ICs shipped with 90% cost reduction. Differentiating technologies include the patented ZERO-CAL calibration elimination system, the Gen-4 Silicon IC Family with multi-band coverage and 1024 QAM modulation support, and Kinetic Green power efficiency features. The company maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification at its Billerica, MA facility.

Anokiwave operates a direct enterprise sales model targeting large OEMs and defense customers, supplemented by a global distribution agreement with Richardson Electronics and regional representative agreements in Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Finland, and central US. Named customers include Starry (fixed wireless), Ball Aerospace (defense SATCOM), Requtech AB, hiSky, Tidalloft, and MilliBox. The company is venture-backed, having raised Series B (2015) and Series C (2017) funding, and was acquired by Qorvo in January 2024, with the team integrated into Qorvo's High Performance Analog (HPA) segment.

Name

Anokiwave

Legal name

Anokiwave, Inc.

Website

https://anokiwave.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Anokiwave is a fabless semiconductor company designing highly integrated silicon CMOS millimeter-wave ICs (beamformers, IF converters, transceivers) for phased array active antennas in 5G, SATCOM, and Defense & Aerospace markets, now part of Qorvo's HPA segment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Millimeter-Wave Semiconductor ICs

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

Millimeter-Wave (mmWave) ICs & Beamforming ICs (HDAHAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

RF Front-End Modules (FEMs) & Integrated RF Modules (HDAHAMAA), RF Transceivers & RFIC SoCs (Cellular/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth) (HDAHAMAE), Satellite, GNSS & Positioning RF ICs (HDAHAMAJ)

Keywords

• Millimeter wave semiconductors
• Phased array beamformer ICs
• MmW active antenna ICs
• 5G SATCOM silicon ICs
• Defense radar beamforming

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Silicon IC Sales: Sale of highly integrated millimeter-wave silicon ICs including beamformer ICs, IF converter ICs, transceiver ICs, and front-end ICs for 5G, SATCOM, and Defense & Aerospace markets. The company operates as a fabless semiconductor company with volume manufacturing through GLOBALFOUNDRIES partnership.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Anokiwave designs and sells highly integrated silicon CMOS millimeter-wave (mmW) integrated circuits for active antenna phased array systems. Its portfolio includes beamformer ICs, IF up/down converter ICs, IF transceiver ICs, and front-end ICs covering 5G bands (24-30 GHz, 37-43.5 GHz), SATCOM bands (Ku, K, Ka), and defense/aerospace bands (X-band). Products are fabless-manufactured at GLOBALFOUNDRIES using 300mm CMOS and incorporate patented ZERO-CAL® calibration elimination and Kinetic Green™ power reduction features.

Product overview

Anokiwave is a fabless semiconductor company providing highly integrated millimeter-wave (mmW) silicon ICs for phased array active antenna systems. The product portfolio is organized around three primary markets: 5G, SATCOM, and Defense & Aerospace. The core product line consists of Beamformer ICs (AWMF-0221, AWMF-0236 for 5G; AWMF-0240, AWMF-0241, AWMF-0197, AWMF-0198 for SATCOM; AWS-0103 for X-Band radar), complemented by IF Up/Down Converter ICs (AWMF-0210, AWMF-0218) and IF Transceiver ICs (AWMF-0224, AWMF-0196) that form a complete signal chain from IF to antenna. Supporting tools include Array Calculators for 5G and SATCOM system design. Key differentiating technologies include patented ZERO-CAL calibration elimination, multi-band Gen-4 IC family covering 24-30 GHz and 37-43.5 GHz, and Kinetic Green power efficiency features. Products are manufactured using 300mm CMOS technology at GLOBALFOUNDRIES and are shipping in volume for deployed radios.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AWMF-0221 Beamformer IC 24-30 GHz Gen-4 dual polarization quad 4x2 beamformer IC built on a CMOS platform providing the industry's first multi-band solution supporting n258 and n257/n261 bands. Delivers higher EIRP and efficiency for smaller arrays and supports higher bandwidth/modulations including 802.11ac/802.11ax waveforms.
• AWMF-0236 Beamformer IC 37-43.5 GHz Gen-4 dual polarization quad 4x2 beamformer IC covering 3GPP n260 and n259 bands, providing higher EIRP and efficiency for smaller arrays with support for higher bandwidth and modulations.
• AWMF-0247 TDD Beamformer IC Ku-Band TDD beamformer IC supporting 13.75-14.5 GHz Tx and 10.7-12.75 GHz Rx with 4x1 configuration. Industry-leading noise figure enables smaller arrays or increased performance, with adjustable PA VDD for higher order modulation schemes.
• AWMF-0240 Ku-Band SATCOM Rx Beamformer IC Next-gen Ku-Band SATCOM quad 4x2 Rx beamformer IC covering 10.7-12.75 GHz. Supports four dual polarization Rx radiating elements with full polarization flexibility and enables the industry's smallest, lowest power, highest efficiency phased array active antennas.
• AWMF-0241 Ku-Band SATCOM Tx Beamformer IC Next-gen Ku-Band SATCOM Gen-2 quad 4x2 Tx beamformer IC covering 13.75-14.5 GHz. Supports four dual polarization Tx radiating elements with full polarization flexibility.
• AWMF-0210 IF Up/Down Converter IC 24-30 GHz IF up/down converter IC with up/down conversion functionality and x4 LO multiplier integrated into a single IC, simplifying active antenna layout by eliminating high frequency routing.
• AWMF-0218 IF Up/Down Converter IC 37-43.5 GHz IF up/down converter IC covering n260/n259 bands, designed to work with AWMF-0236 for a complete 3GPP compliant mmW to IF solution for 5G phased array systems.
• AWMF-0224 IF Transceiver IC 24.2-29.5 GHz mmW-IF dual channel IF transceiver IC with up/down conversion, PLL/VCO, and LO synthesizer functions integrated into a single IC, enabling 2T2R applications within a single die.
• AWMF-0196 IF Transceiver IC 37-48.2 GHz dual channel IF transceiver IC with integrated dual Tx single-sideband up-conversion, dual Rx image-reject down-conversion, and on-chip synthesizer.
• AWS-0103 X-Band Beamformer IC X-Band dual Rx single Tx beamformer IC covering 8.5-10.55 GHz with high linearity. Supports four radiating elements with single beam transmit and dual beam receive modes, including 6-bit phase and 6-bit gain control.
• AWMF-0106 X-Band T/R Front End IC X-Band 4W T/R front end IC covering 8.5-10.55 GHz. Integrated PA, LNA, and switch with high Tx output power for HPA drive, Tx output power detection, and active bias circuits.
• AWMF-0197 K-Band SATCOM Rx Beamformer IC K-Band SATCOM Gen-2 quad 4x2 Rx beamformer IC covering 17.7-21.2 GHz. Builds on prior generations improving performance, reducing cost, and providing digital functionality.
• AWMF-0198 Ka-Band SATCOM Tx Beamformer IC Ka-Band SATCOM Gen-2 quad 4x2 Tx beamformer IC covering 27.5-31 GHz. Supports four dual polarization Tx radiating elements with full polarization flexibility.
• AWA-0213 5G Active Antenna Innovator Kit 24-30 GHz mmW-IF 5G front end active array innovator kit with 32 elements and dual polarization. Plug and play kit providing near ideal performance for prototyping mmW 5G radios.
• Gen-4 5G IC Family Fourth generation of silicon ICs for mmW 5G featuring industry's highest efficiency and linear power. Wideband performance covering 24-30 GHz and 37-43.5 GHz with support for up to 1.6 GHz IBW, 1% EVM, and 1024 QAM. Includes ZERO-CAL technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 dB link improvement on uplink, 10 dB link improvement on downlink compared to competing solutions
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QorvocoreOthers · 31 January 2024Qorvo announced acquisition of Anokiwave in January 2024. Anokiwave's high-frequency beamforming and IF to RF conversion ICs complement Qorvo's RF front end portfolio. The combination enables highly integrated complete solutions and SiPs for defense, aerospace and network infrastructure applications. Anokiwave team joined Qorvo's High Performance Analog (HPA) segment.
• StarrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2023Collaboration to enable affordable, high quality mmWave fixed wireless broadband access. Anokiwave designed a complete Phased Array Antenna Module (PAAM) using Gen-4 silicon ICs for Starry's next-generation customer premises receivers (CPE) for 24GHz and 37GHz fixed wireless.
• TidalloftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2023Partnership to create state-of-the-art AESA technology for the aviation market. X-band RADAR aviation solutions collaboration.
• Requtech ABminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2022Collaboration to enable high performance SATCOM-On-The-Move user terminals. Requtech's lightweight electronically scanned antennas at Ku and Ka bands powered by Anokiwave's SATCOM ICs deliver high performance and low-cost user terminals.
• NXP Semiconductors, YTTEK, SemicommcoreTechnology or Integration · 25 January 2022Partnership enables Open RAN ecosystem for mmW 5G developments. Companies demonstrated an end-to-end FR2 ORAN solution during a seminar in Taipei, Taiwan. Anokiwave's beamformer ICs combined with NXP semiconductors for complete solution.
• hiSkyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2020Collaboration to enable Smartellite™ SATCOM terminals for high volume commercial applications. Next generation low cost voice, data, and IoT satellite communication terminals.
• Ball AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2020Collaboration to enable flat-panel phased arrays for air, land, and sea applications. Anokiwave's advanced low-cost silicon 2nd generation SATCOM K/Ka-band ICs power Ball Aerospace's fully electronically steerable antennas with no moving parts. Expanded to include Ku-band options in 2020.
• GLOBALFOUNDRIEScoreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2020Volume manufacturing partnership. Anokiwave's Gen-2 Ku and K/Ka-Band Silicon Beamformer ICs in large scale production at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. Turnkey solution enabling industry-leading quality and capacity.
• O-RAN AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2018Anokiwave joined the O-RAN alliance as a contributing member in support of open, interoperable interfaces that maximize the use of common off-the-shelf hardware.
• 3GPPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2016Anokiwave joined 3GPP as a guest member to advance leadership position in mmW 5G market and contribute to development of future 5G specifications and standards.
• ATISminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2016Anokiwave joined ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions) as a voting member to advance emerging 5G networks.
• Richardson ElectronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 September 2015Global distribution agreement. Richardson Electronics distributes Anokiwave's highly-integrated silicon core chips and III-V front-end ICs with highly-technical support for challenging applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MACOM Technology Solutions: MACOM is a leading supplier of high-performance RF, microwave, millimeterwave, and photonic semiconductor products. It directly competes with Anokiwave in GaAs/GaN front-end ICs and mmW beamforming for SATCOM and defense, and Anokiwave board member Michael T. Murphy came from MACOM.
• Sivers Semiconductors: Sivers Semiconductors develops mmW beamforming ICs and modules for 5G, SATCOM, and fixed wireless — directly comparable product portfolio to Anokiwave in the 5G and SATCOM markets, with the addition of complete phased array modules.
• Arralis: Arralis designs and manufactures mmW semiconductor ICs, modules, and antennas up to 110 GHz for satellite communications, radar, and 5G. It is a direct peer in mmW beamforming and front-end technology for the same defense, SATCOM, and 5G markets Anokiwave addresses.
• RFHIC: RFHIC specializes in GaN and GaAs semiconductor solutions for 5G, radar, SATCOM, and defense applications. It directly competes with Anokiwave in mmW power amplifiers and front-end ICs, particularly for defense and SATCOM end markets.
• Guerrilla RF: Guerrilla RF designs and manufactures high-performance RF and mmW semiconductors for wireless infrastructure, SATCOM, and defense markets. It competes with Anokiwave in the RF front-end and low-power mmW IC segments.

Broad incumbents

• Qorvo: Qorvo is Anokiwave's acquirer and parent. It is a large incumbent RF semiconductor supplier with broad RF front-end, GaAs/GaN, and now (via Anokiwave) mmW beamforming capabilities for 5G, Wi-Fi, and defense — the closest large-scale competitor in the same product space.
• Renesas (IDT): Renesas, through its IDT acquisition, provides RF, mmW, and timing products for wireless infrastructure. It competes with Anokiwave in beamforming ICs and transceivers for 5G and SATCOM, with broader product breadth across MCUs and analog.
• Broadcom: Broadcom is a leading supplier of RF semiconductor products for wireless communications, including front-end modules and connectivity silicon. It competes in the broader 5G infrastructure semiconductor space where Anokiwave plays, and Anokiwave board member Bryan Ingram came from Broadcom.

Emerging players

• Altum RF: Altum RF is an emerging fabless RF semiconductor company developing high-frequency ICs for 5G, SATCOM, and defense. It targets similar mmW applications as Anokiwave with a narrower product portfolio focused on specific high-frequency bands.
• Mixcomm (Sivers Wireless): Mixcomm, founded by mmW pioneers from Columbia University, developed 5G mmW beamforming ICs and was acquired by Sivers Semiconductors. It overlaps with Anokiwave's 5G beamforming IC roadmap for the same carrier and FWA customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Anokiwave
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/qorvo
• Facebookfacebook.com/anokiwave
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anokiwave

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anokiwave