Consumer semiconductor sales to double by 2009

The consumer semiconductor market will more than double between 2004 and 2009, expanding from just over $14bn to almost $30bn, newly published research has predicted.

The consumer semiconductor landscape is on the verge of "dramatic evolution", according to the IDC study. Some markets, such as digital TV, represent strong growth potential for new entrants, but other markets, such as DVD, offer moderate expansion and "exceptional challenges".

IDC stated that the market will experience the fastest year-over-year growth rates through 2007.

Consumer semiconductor sales growth is fuelled by the increasing importance of these chips in both existing and developing end products in the digital home environment, according to the study.

"The consumer semiconductor market is one of the fastest growing and most challenging segments in the semiconductor industry," said IdaRose Sylvester, senior research analyst at IDC's semiconductors: consumer devices programme.

"But with opportunity comes significant technological, market and competitive challenges, and only the most strategically-focused semiconductor vendors are going to benefit substantially from this growth."