Kicking off this year’s Live Better Connected podcast series, Gareth Elliott (Director of Policy and Communications) headed to South Wales—the heart of the UK’s semiconductor revolution.

His destination? CSA Catapult, the UK’s authority on the commercialisation of compound semiconductor (CS) applications. In this episode, Gareth sits down with Joe Gannicliffe, Head of Photonics and RF at CSA Catapult, and Wyn Meredith, Director of CSconnected, to explore why these tiny components are the "secret sauce" behind the next generation of connectivity, including 5G Standalone (5GSA).

What exactly are Compound Semiconductors?

While traditional chips are made from silicon, compound semiconductors are engineered from two or more elements, such as Gallium Nitride (GaN) or Silicon Carbide (SiC).

As Wyn explains in the episode, this "recipe" gives them superpowers that standard silicon simply can't match. They operate at much higher frequencies and offer vastly superior power efficiency—making them the ideal engine for the high-demand electronic devices we use every day.

The Backbone of 5G Standalone (5GSA)

We are moving beyond basic 5G. To achieve the "holy grail" of ultra-low latency and massive bandwidth promised by 5G Standalone, our hardware has to evolve. Compound semiconductors are the essential building blocks for:

• RF Front-Ends: Managing complex radio signals with precision.

• Power Amplifiers: Allowing base stations to transmit more data while using less energy.

• Photonics: Enabling the high-speed optical components that move data across the globe at the speed of light.

A National Treasure in South Wales

The demand for a "connected UK" is skyrocketing, and semiconductors have become our digital backbone. The South Wales semiconductor cluster isn't just a local success story; it is a nationally critical ecosystem. With a robust supply chain that fuels economic growth across the country, this cluster ensures the UK remains a global leader in high-growth sectors like AI, Space, and Future Telecoms.

Why It Matters

From the fibre optics in your street to the massive data centres powering the cloud, compound semiconductors are the foundational enablers of modern life. They allow networks to deliver more capacity and better performance, all while keeping energy consumption in check.

Ready to hear the full story? Watch or listen to the latest episode here and discover how CSA Catapult is helping the UK stay connected, one compound chip at a time.

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