Telecom Lead Asia: Chip designer and supplier Qualcomm is
planning to set up an Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and Engineering R&D
center in Singapore.
The establishment of this new facility expands the
company’s presence in the island-state, first established in 2000.
“Singapore is an important strategic hub for
the Asia Pacific region and among the most vibrant and highest growth
areas for the wireless and semiconductor industries in the world. The expansion
of our presence in Singapore demonstrates Qualcomm’s deepened
commitment to the Asia Pacific region and builds on more than a
decade of successful operations here,” said John Stefanac, vice
president of Qualcomm
and president of Qualcomm Southeast Asia and Pacific.
Qualcomm will also manage certain strategic business
planning and development, sourcing, procurement and distribution, as well as
other marketing and administrative functions, from Singapore for
Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, the company’s chipset division.
The new IC Design and Engineering R&D operations will
focus on chipset design and development – including analog and power design;
mixed signal design; digital design; mask layout design; and pre and post
silicon verification.
“This facility will deliver powerful and innovative
chipset designs that will continue to improve the mobile experience for
consumers,” said Jim Lederer, executive vice president and general
manager for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.
Singapore has held a strategic importance to
Qualcomm since 2000 when the company set up its chipset distribution center in
the country.
In 2008, Qualcomm established its first test development
center outside of the United States, enabling Singapore to become
Qualcomm’s development hub for the Asia Pacific region.
Recently, Qualcomm,
via its Wireless Reach initiative, Microsoft and Nan Chiau Primary School
unveiled the WE Learn mobile education project. The project will use 3G
smartphones to create a 21st century classroom experience for students in
Singapore.
