NEW YORK-“The fundamental drivers of wireless are still there, a nice growth trend in basic subscribers and minutes of use through 2006, and that’s positive for us,” said Ralph Faison, who is poised to become chief executive officer of Andrew Corp. in February.
“The area we best address is the RF footprint. That’s where the pressure is greatest,” he said Jan. 8 at the Needham & Co. Inc. “Growth Conference”.
Although he expects total capital expenditures to decline at a compound annual rate of 6 percent, Faison said he also anticipates carrier spending on the RF footprint, which includes equipment like microwave antennas and power amplifiers, to grow at a compound annual rate of 6 percent.
“Power amplifier growth is even nicer than the (overall) RF footprint, and we address the outsourced, merchant segment. In 2002, the ratio of OEM (original equipment manufacturers) to outsourced was 50:50. In 2006, it will be 30:70,” he said.
Faison became president and chief operating officer of Andrew last June after it acquired his company, Celiant Corp., whose strength is in power amplifiers, for $470 million. Before joining Celiant, he held several executive positions at Lucent Technologies, including vice president in charge of spinning off new businesses from its New Ventures Group and vice president of advertising and brand management for the parent company.
In December, Andrew’s board of directors announced its intent to name Faison CEO when the company’s annual stockholder meeting convenes February 11.
Floyd English, who has been chief executive officer of Orland Park, Ill.-based Andrew Corp. for 20 years, will retain his title as company chairman until February 2004.
