GaAs in the broadband infrastructure

Abstract

In this paper the broadband infrastructure is analyzed with emphasis on broadband access and broadband switching. Broadband access will mainly be based on the existing CATV and twisted pair infrastructures, whereas radio will be used mainly for mobile users. Broadband switching will be dominated by ATM technology. GaAs and other III-V components are naturally applied in optical and RF front-ends of both switches and terminal equipment. High speed switching can be implemented in CMOS, but GaAs has the potential to offer higher levels of integration resulting in system level better reliability, lower cost and lower power consumption.