Intel, Friday announced that the company will invest USD1.5 billion for a stake of 20% in subsidiaries of Tsinghua Unigroup, Spreadtrum Communications and RDA Microelectronics.
According to Intel the investments allow the company to expand the product offerings and adoption for Intel-based mobile devices in China and worldwide by jointly developing Intel® Architecture and communications-based solutions for mobile phones.
Both Spreadtrum and RDA, controlled by Tsinghua Unigroup, are leading fabless semiconductor companies in China, which develop mobile chipset platforms for smart phones, feature phones and other consumer electronics products, supporting 2G, 3G and 4G wireless communications standards. Spreadtrum Communications will jointly create and sell a family of Intel Architecture-based system-on-chips (SoCs) with the first batch expected to hit the market in the 2nd half of 2015.
"China is now the largest consumption market for smartphones and has the largest number of Internet users in the world. These agreements with Tsinghua Unigroup underscore Intel's 29-year-long history of investing in and working in China. This partnership will also enhance our ability to support a wider range of mobile customers in China and the rest of the world by more quickly delivering a broader portfolio of Intel architecture and communications technology solutions."
- Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO
"It has become a national priority of China to grow its semiconductor industry. The strategic collaboration between Tsinghua Unigroup and Intel ranges from design and development to marketing and equity investments, which demonstrate Intel's confidence in the Chinese market and strong commitment to Chinese semiconductor industry, which will accelerate the technology development and further strengthen the competitiveness and market position of Chinese semiconductor companies."
- Zhao Weiguo, Chairman and President of Tsinghua Unigroup
