Qualcomm to Acquire Alphawave Semi for $2.4B to Strengthen AI Data Center Strategy
Qualcomm Incorporated has announced a significant agreement to acquire Alphawave IP Group plc for an implied enterprise value of approximately $2.4 billion. The acquisition will be carried out by Aqua Acquisition Sub LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm. This move is set to accelerate Qualcomm’s entry into the data center market, enhancing its capabilities in high-performance, low-power computing.
The deal comes at a time when the demand for AI inferencing and custom CPUs in data centers is rapidly increasing. Qualcomm aims to leverage its Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU processors to meet this growing demand and drive next-generation computing performance.
Alphawave Semi: A Leader in High-Speed Connectivity and Compute
Alphawave Semi is a global leader in high-speed wired connectivity and compute technologies. The company provides IP, custom silicon, and chiplets that drive faster, more reliable data transfer with higher performance and lower power consumption. Its products are key components in the infrastructure that powers data centers, AI, data networking, and data storage.
Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, said, “Under Tony’s leadership Alphawave Semi has developed leading high-speed wired connectivity and compute technologies that are complementary to our power-efficient CPU and NPU cores.”
He added, “Qualcomm’s advanced custom processors are a natural fit for data center workloads. The combined teams share the goal of building advanced technology solutions and enabling next-level connected computing performance across a wide array of high growth areas, including data center infrastructure.”
The acquisition will allow Qualcomm to strengthen its AI compute and connectivity solutions for data center workloads, particularly those driven by AI and machine learning.
Expanding Qualcomm’s Custom Processor Portfolio
Qualcomm’s advanced custom processors, including its Oryon CPUs and Hexagon NPUs, are well-positioned to cater to the needs of the growing data center market, where high-performance, energy-efficient processing is crucial. Combining these with Alphawave Semi’s technologies will provide a comprehensive solution to address the increasing demand for AI-driven compute infrastructure.
Also read: Qualcomm Technologies, Aetina, and Data Systems Unveil Enterprise AI Assistant at COMPUTEX 2025
A Strategic Milestone for Alphawave Semi
The acquisition represents a significant milestone for Alphawave Semi, providing an opportunity to join forces with Qualcomm, a respected leader in the semiconductor industry. Tony Pialis, President and CEO of Alphawave Semi, stated:
The acquisition is expected to be completed by Q1 2026, subject to several conditions, including regulatory approvals, approval from a majority of Alphawave Semi’s shareholders, and sanction by the UK High Court in accordance with the UK Takeover Code.
