Atheros Communications
Atheros Communications was a San Jose-based semiconductor company that designed wireless LAN chipsets and RF/mixed-signal silicon for the wireless networking industry, serving OEMs in PCs, networking, and consumer electronics until its 2011 acquisition by Qualcomm.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Atheros Communications does
Atheros Communications was a semiconductor company that designed and developed wireless LAN chipsets and related radio frequency (RF), mixed-signal, and digital semiconductor solutions for the wireless networking market. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company built silicon that enabled Wi-Fi and other wireless connectivity in PCs, networking equipment, and consumer electronics, competing in a specialized niche that required deep analog and digital design expertise.
The company scaled through venture capital, including a $66.7 million financing round in April 2001 led by Fidelity with strategic participation from TDK Corporation and Mitsubishi International Corporation, and went public on NASDAQ under the ticker ATHR. It pursued inorganic growth, acquiring Opulan Technologies in July 2010 to broaden into broadband access silicon. In 2011, Atheros was acquired by Qualcomm and ceased to exist as an independent publicly traded company; its technology and brand continue to operate under Qualcomm's ownership as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Atheros Communications firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Atheros Communications
- Website
- https://atheros.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Atheros Communications was a San Jose-based semiconductor company that designed wireless LAN chipsets and RF/mixed-signal silicon for the wireless networking industry, serving OEMs in PCs, networking, and consumer electronics until its 2011 acquisition by Qualcomm.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Atheros Communications industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wireless Networking Semiconductors
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS) (HDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- RF Transceivers & RFIC SoCs (Cellular/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth) (HDAHAMAE), Wireless Interface Adapters (Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular Modems) (HDAFAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Atheros Communications is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Atheros Communications business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations
Atheros Communications product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Atheros Communications designed and sold wireless LAN chipsets and semiconductor solutions for wireless networking applications. The company's core competency was radio frequency, mixed signal, and digital semiconductor design for Wi-Fi and wireless communications products serving computing and consumer electronics OEMs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wireless LAN Chipsets Semiconductor chipsets designed for Wi-Fi and wireless LAN connectivity, sold to OEMs and device manufacturers for integration into networking equipment, computing platforms, and consumer electronics.
Companies that use Atheros Communications
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Atheros Communications technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Atheros Communications partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Atheros Communications competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Texas Instruments: Texas Instruments is a broad incumbent semiconductor manufacturer with a connectivity portfolio (including Wi-Fi) that overlapped with Atheros's addressable market in consumer and industrial segments.
- Intel: Intel integrated Wi-Fi silicon (notably via the Centrino platform and later Intel wireless products) into its PC and networking chipsets, competing head-to-head with Atheros in WLAN client and access-point silicon.
Emerging players
- Redpine Signals: Redpine Signals develops low-power Wi-Fi and BLE SoCs targeting IoT and connected-device applications, representing an emerging niche that overlaps with Atheros's wireless connectivity focus.
- Quantenna Communications: Quantenna focused on high-performance Wi-Fi chipsets for access points and home networking, occupying adjacent technology territory to Atheros's WLAN business before its acquisition by MaxLinear.
- Silicon Laboratories (Silicon Labs): Silicon Labs offers wireless connectivity SoCs (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread) for IoT, making it a partially overlapping peer in connectivity-focused silicon targeted at connected devices.
Direct peers
- Broadcom: Broadcom is one of the largest suppliers of Wi-Fi and wireless connectivity chipsets, directly competing with Atheros in WLAN silicon for consumer, enterprise, and mobile applications before and after Atheros's acquisition.
- MediaTek: MediaTek is a leading fabless semiconductor vendor with a broad wireless connectivity portfolio (including via its acquisition of Ralink), directly overlapping with Atheros's Wi-Fi and connectivity chipset offerings.
- Marvell Technology: Marvell designs wireless connectivity and networking semiconductors, including Wi-Fi chipsets, making it a direct comparable to Atheros's core wireless LAN franchise.
- CSR plc: CSR specialized in wireless connectivity chipsets (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS) and was eventually acquired by Qualcomm, making it a closely comparable UK-based counterpart to Atheros in connectivity silicon.
- Realtek Semiconductor: Realtek is a major competitor in Wi-Fi and connectivity chipsets, particularly in consumer electronics and PC segments where Atheros also competed.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Atheros Communications social profiles
Digital presenceAtheros Communications financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Atheros Communications leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Atheros Communications funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Atheros Communications M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Atheros Communications
What does Atheros Communications do?
Atheros Communications designed and sold wireless LAN chipsets and semiconductor solutions for wireless networking applications. The company's core competency was radio frequency, mixed signal, and digital semiconductor design for Wi-Fi and wireless communications products serving computing and consumer electronics OEMs.
Is Atheros Communications a public or private company?
Atheros Communications is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Atheros Communications founded?
Atheros Communications was founded in 1998. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Atheros Communications based?
Atheros Communications is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Atheros Communications's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Texas Instruments and Intel. Emerging players are Redpine Signals, Quantenna Communications and Silicon Laboratories (Silicon Labs). Direct peers are Broadcom, MediaTek, Marvell Technology, CSR plc and Realtek Semiconductor.
Does Atheros Communications have an API?
No public API is recorded for Atheros Communications.
What industry is Atheros Communications in?
Atheros Communications's product category is Wireless Networking Semiconductors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHABAA, Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS), with a secondary code of HDAHAMAE, RF Transceivers & RFIC SoCs (Cellular/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.