KYOCERA and Ube Join Forces on Ceramic Filters for 5G Base Stations

In a recent release, Kyocera and Ube Industries together announced that the two companies have signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture ceramic filters for 5G base stations.

Under the agreement, Kyocera reportedly will acquire 51 percent of the shares of Ube Electronics, a subsidiary of Ube Industries. Kyocera and Ube Industries will then establish a joint venture named Kyocera-Ube RF TEC Corporation, which will commence operations in December 2019.

5G mobile network technology enables high-capacity, low-latency communications for connected devices in smart homes, driverless cars, healthcare, and more. 5G technology generally involves two different types of base stations: macro-cell base stations, which provide coverage to relatively wider areas, and small-cell base stations, with coverage for highly populated areas to strengthen communications. Ceramic filters, which are among the main products manufactured by Ube Electronics, are key components enabling macro cell base stations. For base station applications, the ceramic filters paired with antennas remove unwanted signal elements and allow only the desired signal to be transmitted or received. Because ceramic technology offers component miniaturization while improving high power output, ceramic filters are expected to replace metallic filters in 5G infrastructure, the companies said in the release.

By combining the filter design technology of Ube Electronics with Kyocera’s global ceramic components manufacturing expertise and sales network, the joint venture will seek to meet rising demand for these key components enabling the expansion of 5G technology.