Broadcom Inc.: A Giant in the Semiconductor and Infrastructure Software World
Imagine a company that has been shaping the tech landscape for over six decades. That’s Broadcom Inc., an American multinational powerhouse with roots dating back to 1961 as HP Associates, a semiconductor products division of Hewlett-Packard.
A Brief History
Back in 1999, HP spun off its semiconductor business into Agilent Technologies. In 2005, KKR and Silver Lake Partners bought the Semiconductor Products Group from Agilent for a whopping $2.6 billion, forming Avago Technologies. Fast forward to August 2009, when Avago went public with the ticker symbol AVGO.
Acquisitions and Growth
Avago wasn’t just content with its initial acquisitions; it made several strategic moves that solidified its position in the tech industry. In April 2013, they acquired CyOptics, and by December of the same year, LSI Corporation joined their ranks. The biggest acquisition came in May 2022 when Avago bought VMware for a staggering $69 billion.
From Agilent to Broadcom
In November 2017, after acquiring Broadcom Corporation, the company changed its name from Avago Technologies Limited to Broadcom Limited and later to Broadcom Inc. This strategic move was not just about a name change; it was about positioning themselves as a leader in both semiconductor and infrastructure software.
Product Portfolio
Broadcom’s product portfolio is vast, serving data center, networking, software, broadband, wireless, and storage markets. Their core technologies include networking devices, optical technologies, network interface controllers (NICs), and data storage. Vendors like Dell, Apple, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Raspberry Pi use Broadcom NICs in their products.
Networking Innovations
Broadcom’s innovations in networking are nothing short of revolutionary. The Jericho2 is a programmable Ethernet switch chip with up to 10 Tbit/s switching capacity per device, while the Tomahawk 3 series supports high-density, standards-based 400GbE, 200GbE, and 100GbE switching and routing for hyperscale cloud networks. The Tomahawk 4 reached a speed of 25.6 Tbit/s, and the Tomahawk 5 has a maximum speed of 51.2 Tbit/s.
Enterprise Software
Broadcom’s enterprise software products include Symantec Enterprise Security and BizOps technology: Clarity, Rally, Blaze CT, DX Operational Intelligence, Agile Requirements Designer. These tools help businesses streamline their operations and enhance security.
Investigations and Lawsuits
Broadcom has faced its share of challenges, including investigations by the FTC in 2018 and EU orders to stop anticompetitive practices in October 2019. However, they have managed to settle these issues and continue their growth trajectory.
Future Prospects
Broadcom’s future looks bright with the acquisition of VMware for $61 billion in May 2022, which was completed on November 22, 2023. This move further solidifies their position as a leader in both hardware and software solutions.
Conclusion
Broadcom Inc. is not just a company; it’s an industry giant that has been shaping the tech landscape for decades. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of the world’s leading semiconductor and infrastructure software providers, Broadcom continues to innovate and push boundaries. As they look towards the future, one thing is certain: Broadcom will continue to play a pivotal role in the tech ecosystem.
You want to know more about Broadcom?
This page is based on the article Broadcom published in Wikipedia (retrieved on December 13, 2024) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
