19 June 2014

GigOptix to acquire Tahoe RF

GigOptix Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (a fabless supplier of analog semiconductor and optical communications components for fiber-optic and wireless networks) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire for cash only (by way of assuming specified liabilities) substantially all of the assets of Tahoe RF Semiconductor Inc of Auburn, CA, USA, a full-service turnkey provider of RF/analog RFICs, IP and fully integrated systems and subsystems on a chip. The acquisition is expected to close on 30 June (the first day of GigOptix’s fiscal third-quarter 2014) when all of Tahoe RF’s team of engineers will become GigOptix employees.

The acquisition of Tahoe RF “brings to GigOptix a solid team of very experienced RF engineers and a rich portfolio of proven silicon IP into our RF and Wireless product line,” comments chairman & CEO Dr Avi Katz. "The acquisition of Tahoe RF is one more step in our continuous quest to strengthen our industry-leading RF engineering team, and enable GigOptix to address increasing aggregate data bandwidth demand through our optimized monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) products targeted at point-to-point wireless backhaul applications,” he adds. “The acquisition also puts us in an excellent position to expand into adjacent RF and wireless market opportunities, including consumer and high-volume enterprise applications, such GPS devices.”

Expanding wireless product line

Tahoe RF has an extensive library of silicon-proven customizable IP cores and solutions - including RF front-ends, low-power transmitters, direct conversion receivers, low-noise amplifiers, and fractional-N frequency synthesizers, as well as automatic gain control and RF receiver patents - which can be leveraged to create optimized integrated subsystems and systems.

“To support the strong RF and wireless chipset demand that we have seen so far this year, we have acquired Tahoe RF to further expand our Wireless Product Line engineering team,” says Dr Raluca Dinu, VP & general manager of GigOptix’s High-Speed Communications division. “GigOptix is trailblazing a path to providing a rich RF and wireless roadmap for the industry, striving for leading performance, increased integration, while delivering lower costs,” he adds. “Crafted together with Tahoe RF team, our updated RF and wireless products roadmap is available to our partners now. We are looking forward to providing our customers with the newest chipsets in the point-to-point wireless backhaul and adjacent markets as early as this year.”

E-Band radio shipments by GigOptix are expected to grow to 6000 per month, with total shipments in 2014 in excess of 50,000 radios, driven by the deployment of LTE cellular infrastructure in support of the ever-growing demand for mobile data for smartphones. The deployment of small cells, addressed by V-band (60GHz) devices, is expected to be one order of magnitude greater than regular cells in urban areas, and demand for V-band radios is expected to accelerate in the next two years with volumes at much higher than E-band.

According to EJL Wireless Research’s 10th Edition (April 2014) of the ‘Global Digital PTP Radio Market Analysis and Forecast’, global point-to-point 1Gbps high-capacity radio volumes will grow in the 60GHz and 70/80GHz bands during 2014-2018. Ethernet 1Gbps high-capacity radio shipments are forecasted to grow from over 1000 in 2014 to over 89,000 in 2018 at 60GHz, and from over 42,000 in 2014 to over 136,000 in 2018 at 70/80GHz.

RF and wireless expertise

Tahoe RF’s CEO & president Irshad Rasheed joins GigOptix as director of marketing for the RF and Wireless Product Line within the High Speed Communications business unit. “The knowledge and IP that accompany Irshad and the Tahoe RF team will be applied to extend GigOptix’ wireless product portfolio from E-band to adjacent operating radio frequencies such as V-band and others,” says Dinu. “As such, GigOptix is also uniquely positioned to become a dominant supplier in the V-band chipsets based on our specialized core skills, leading RF performance, and disruptive roadmap,” he reckons. “With the RF and wireless expertise we are acquiring from Tahoe RF, the RF and Wireless product line is in an excellent position to expand into new emerging markets,” he believes.

See related items:

GigOptix showcasing RF MMICs and E-band products at IMS

GigOptix delivers $1.5m order for E-band radio chipsets

GigOptix releases PAs for high capacity E-Band radios

Tags: GigOptix E-band MMICs

Visit: www.gigoptix.com

Visit: www.tahoerf.com