These U.S. startups are driving future innovations with 5G revolution and 5G antenna space

The 5G revolution is taking the world by storm disrupting industries, businesses and every other aspect of life, as we know it. The 5G network will enable the implementation of a wide range of emerging solutions and pave the way to new business models.

With the advent of 5G, the radio antenna market may see some disruption by startups as the use of mmWave spectrum in the United States drives 5G innovation, according to a new report from global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research. The report showcased new antenna startups that are disrupting and revolutionizing the 5G cellular antennas space.

Unlike Europe that has native telecom infrastructure vendors like of Ericsson, Nokia or Huawei, the US currently does not have the native infrastructure to support the 5G antenna. A new breed of startups and smaller companies are now stepping in to develop wireless antennas and may become serious contenders in the global patent war for the next wave of 5G networks.

According to ABI Research, the U.S. witnessed significant investment in cellular and 5G antenna R&D in 2019, with the country taking the leading position in millimeter Wave innovation. This means that the U.S. market may take a lead in mmWave 5G networks in terms of intellectual property, something which will become more important as 5G networks get widely deployed.

“Major innovation is happening across the market for 5G and cellular antennas as mobile operators start to focus on 5G, active antennas, and mmWave,” says Dimitris Mavrakis, Research Director at ABI Research. “This means that incumbent infrastructure vendors and antenna manufacturers may not be the key stakeholders for tomorrow’s networks, or that merger and acquisition activity is imminent in the 5G antenna market.”

The new startups and small companies innovating in the cellular and 5G antenna space include: Airrays, Anokiwave, Artemis, Fractal Antennas, Fractus Antennas, Gapwaves, Maja Systems, Metawave, Movandi, Pabellon, Pivotal Commware, Ericsson with its Radio Stripes concept and Satixfy. Some of them have pivoted to address the 5G space while new entrants are now addressing new types of innovation, mostly in the United States with mmWave.

Many of these new entrants are now in the process of developing their technology and products, trying to raise interest and get a market footprint. “However, in 2- or 3-years’ time, it may be these companies that will be directing the 5G show with their new ideas and innovative approach. Much innovation is needed in 5G and this is definitely the first wave,” Mavrakis concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research’s Cellular and 5G antennas Hot Tech Innovators Hot Tech Innovators report. This report is part of the company’s 5G and Mobile Network Infrastructure research service, which includes research, data, ABI Insights. Hot Tech Innovators reports focus on companies at the forefront of transformational innovation, particularly those that are younger and less well-known than the incumbents, at the technological forefront of their markets, developing new business models, destabilizing the current market and prime acquisition targets.