RFID Orders Are On The Rise

July 16, 2009

The global radio-frequency identification (RFID) market is growing despite the fact that the world's largest RFID project--the $6-billion China National ID card scheme--was completed a year earlier. According to IDTechEx, the global RFID market is rising 5 percent this year to $5.56 billion. Most of the action has been in the US, where the largest orders continue to be placed, as well as in the UK, China, and Japan.

For example, CSC and IBM have landed an order for $570 million to upgrade the UK e-passport applications and enrolment system. In addition, Unisys was one of four companies selected by the US Army Program Executive Office-Enterprise Information Systems for a contract for the Radio Frequency Identification III (RFID III) program. China is installing RFID throughout its factories and supply chain in order to underpin the nation's pre-eminence in manufacturing. On the technology front, wireless sensor networks--dubbed third-generation active RFID--are now being offered by a large number of companies.

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich

RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.