Zarlink Semiconductor | Microsemi
Zarlink specialized in developing integrated circuits and components for communication and networking applications. The company's products were used in telecommunications, networking, and medical devices, among other areas. Zarlink Semiconductor ( acquired by Microsemi) was a fabless semiconductor company specializing in the design and manufacture of communication and medical semiconductor integrated circuits, modules, and other devices. In 2011, Microsemi acquired Zarlink in a hostile takeover and merged it into its own operations.
Zarlink was part of Mitel Corporation which was founded by Terry Matthews and Michael Cowpland in 1973. In 1998 Mitel acquired GEC-Plessey Semiconductor in the UK from the General Electric Company plc, through which it gained wireless technology and communications ASIC and systems integration expertise, including RF (Radio Frequency) technology. The combined semiconductor businesses at the time ranked Mitel among the top ten networking companies in the world. The semiconductor division was renamed Zarlink to reflect its interest in networking.
As "Zarlink," the Canadian chip company focused on wired, wireless and optical ICs as well as specialized ultra low-power chip sets for use in medical applications. Earlier this month, Mitel also announced a technology and manufacturing pact with IBM Corp. to gain access to PowerPC processor cores and 0.18-micron copper processes for digital TV integrated circuits. Zarlink Semiconductor's product portfolio encompassed various semiconductor technologies, including mixed-signal integrated circuits, RF (radio frequency) components, communication controllers, network timing solutions, and more. These products played a crucial role in enabling communication systems to function efficiently and reliably.
Zarlink Semiconductor is now a part of Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor solutions for: aerospace, defense and security; enterprise and communications; and industrial and alternative energy markets. Products include high-performance, high-reliability analog and RF devices, mixed-signal and RF integrated circuits, customizable SoCs, FPGAs, and complete subsystems. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,000 employees globally.
Microsemi Corporation offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Microsemi, the company that acquired Zarlink, was itself later acquired by Microchip Technology Inc. in 2018. Microchip Technology is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog, and mixed-signal semiconductors.