Semiconductor Vendor Enters PoE with Acquisition

Nov 1, 2006 12:37 PM

Microsemi has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PowerDsine. With this acquisition, Microsemi expands its portfolio of product offerings to include a broad range of Power over Ethernet (PoE) solutions and enhances its analog and mixed signal design capabilities.

"PowerDsine is a recognized leader in its PoE product offerings for a wide range of rapidly growing applications," said James J. Peterson, Microsemi's President and CEO. "We believe the addition of PowerDsine's experienced team of analog and mixed signal design engineers will yield excellent results both in the PoE market and more broadly across a number of important commercial analog and mixed signal markets we serve today. We are also excited to develop Microsemi's presence in Israel to leverage the country's outstanding engineering talent base."

The number of PoE-enabled switch ports is estimated to grow from approximately 28 million in 2005 to over 100 million by 2009. The growing demand for PoE capability has been driven by a range of networked applications including VoIP phones, WLAN access points and remote security cameras that increasingly rely upon power delivered over the network. Microsemi will continue to support PowerDsine's product roadmaps for both the midspan and integrated product lines.

PowerDsine employs approximately 136 employees worldwide, which includes 94 engineers, and has facilities in Hod Hasharon, Israel; San Jose, California; and Melville, New York.