Interview with Maqbool of AmpliTech Inc. on 5G Innovations and Cybersecurity

The company has a specialization in amplifiers and its Low Noise Amplifiers and Cryogenic Amplifiers are being used by some of the leading satcom, telecom and defense companies around the globe.

Q. Can you give us a brief history of AmpliTech Inc? When the company was founded and the objective behind it?

Fawad Maqbool​: AmpliTech was started in 2002 to provide the same robust, hi-tech products that were offered by much larger companies at a much lower cost. The goal was to leverage our extensive expertise and relatively small size to create an agile company that could provide the same solutions as the “industry giants” while still being able to adapt easily and quickly to changing market trends. For example, the latter has allowed us to focus not only on RF/Microwave products used in SATCOM and military sectors, but consumer products as well.

Q. What products and solutions does AmpliTech develop?

Fawad Maqbool​: Our forte is Low Noise Amplifiers and Waveguide Amplifiers for the SATCOM, Telecom and Military markets, for which we offer industry-leading performance. We also specialize in Cryogenic Amplifiers, which are ultra-low-noise, extremely low-power LNAs. These are used by top-level research agencies and companies for highly specialized low-temperature applications, such as Radio Astronomy and Quantum Computing. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, we offer many custom solutions, such as Redundant LNA systems or simpler ruggedized housings in which our LNAs are coupled with Fault Detection circuitry to allow remote monitoring.

Q. What market segments do you cater to? Which is the largest segment for you?

Fawad Maqbool​: As already mentioned, our biggest customers are currently in the SATCOM and Military segments, but we are currently shifting a good deal of resources into the areas Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity. Moreover, as originally intended when the company was started, we have a strong focus on developing products that would appeal to the individual consumer market.

Q. Who are some of your customers and what are some interesting applications your products have been integrated into?

Fawad Maqbool​: We’ve supplied amplifiers to IBM, NIST, Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed, Insitu and many other world-renowned organizations. Aside from test and development systems, our products have been used in UAVs, F-series fighter planes, cellular base stations, military radios and a host of other airborne and space applications.

Q. Geographically where are your customers located. Do you expect this to change in the years to come?

Fawad Maqbool​: Technically, our customers are located all over the world, with a particularly strong concentration in Europe. Several U.S. government agencies buy our products in the U.S., but most are exported. Therefore, one of our most fervent hopes is to expand our business in North America, especially domestically, so that more of our products are purchased AND used internally.

Q. What differentiates AmpliTech from other RF/Microwave amplifier manufacturers?

Fawad Maqbool​: As alluded to before, AmpliTech has tremendous experience in designing and developing products for which actual design experience is dwindling in companies deemed as competitors. Many of our methods for improving performance are no longer known in the industry and cannot be duplicated. In addition, as a relatively small company, AmpliTech can not only quickly adapt to new trends, but the low overhead ensures that our costs are always lower than our competitors and our processes more efficient.

Q. Cryogenic Amplifiers seem to be an important area for AmpliTech. Can you tell us more about AmpliTech’s Cryogenic Amplifiers - What is unique about them and what are their applications?

Fawad Maqbool​: Our Cryogenic Amplifiers, like our other low noise products, offer the lowest noise temperatures in the industry. The robust design as well as a unique engineering approach, allows these amplifiers to function in 2K temperatures and provide h