Network infrastructure semiconductor supplier Mindspeed Technologies said it has completed its previously announced $76.8 million acquisition of privately-held, U.K.-based Picochip.
Picochip is a supplier of integrated system-on-chip solutions targeting small cell base stations, and has a history of supplying equipment to the femtocell market.
“This marks the closing of the most strategic and exciting acquisition in Mindspeed’s history,” said Mindspeed CEO Raouf Halim, in a statement. “Our combination bolsters and accelerates our position in both 3G/[HSPA] and 4G/[LTE], and we believe we will have the No. 1 market position in deployed small cell processors worldwide, with 70% market share in 3G/HSPA deployments.” Mindspeed expects the market for small cell technology and equipment to be worth $3 billion by 2016.
Analysts are predicting that the market for femtocells, picocells and microcells will hit $14 billion by 2015. Highlighting the heat being generated in the small-cell market was Crown Castle’s $1 billion acquisition of NextG Networks late last year.
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