Qualcomm Acquires UK’s Alphawave Semi in $2.4 Billion Deal to Expand Data Center Capabilities
Qualcomm has agreed to acquire Alphawave Semi, a U.K.-based semiconductor firm specializing in high-speed data center connectivity, for $2.4 billion. The deal marks Qualcomm’s latest move to diversify beyond its core smartphone chip business.
CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed the acquisition, stating the two companies share a common goal: advancing next-generation computing technologies to power the future of data center infrastructure.
“The combined teams aim to drive innovation in high-growth areas like connected computing and enterprise performance,” Amon noted in the official statement.
Alphawave develops cutting-edge wired connectivity and computing solutions, making it a strategic fit for Qualcomm’s enterprise roadmap. The acquisition follows Qualcomm’s earlier purchases of Edge Impulse (IoT solutions) and the generative AI division of Vietnam’s VinAI, highlighting the company’s broader shift toward AI, cloud, and infrastructure technologies.
With smartphone chip sales facing a global slowdown and increased risks from potential tariffs, Qualcomm is aggressively pivoting into new markets where demand is accelerating—particularly in AI and high-performance computing.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
