B.C.’s Sierra Wireless acquired by Semtech for US$1.2 billion

With information from Howard Solomon

There was big information on the British Columbia tech scene yesterday when it was declared that Semtech Corp., a supplier of analog and mixed-sign semiconductors and algorithms, has acquired Sierra Wi-fi Inc. for US$1.2 billion.

Primarily based in Richmond, B.C., Sierra Wi-fi makes a extensive assortment of WiFi and embedded mobile modules and gateways for initial devices manufacturers, as perfectly as presenting cloud answers for taking care of products and information. Models are in almost everything from good lockers, to developing HVAC techniques, to transportation vans. Several chief information and facts security officers would know the company through its Airlink routers and gateways.

The company focuses on 3 marketplaces: Industrial Edge for production asset checking Cell Edge for cell asset tracking and Infrastructure Edge for professional infrastructure.

According to a launch issued by Semtech, which is headquartered in Camarillo, Calif., the acquisition “brings with each other two significant technologies for the upcoming of IoT – Extended Range Radio (LoRA) and cellular – to empower the digitization of the industrial environment with a extensive chip-to-cloud system.”

Ideas get in touch with for Semtech to obtain all remarkable shares of Sierra Wi-fi for US$31 a share, which is 25 per cent increased than it was on the previous working day the inventory traded late final 7 days.

“We feel the upcoming era of technologies advancement is the total digitization of our industrial earth – the World-wide-web of Every little thing,” said Mohan Maheswaran, president and chief executive officer of Semtech.

“Our eyesight is to create a easy, horizontal platform with the aim of accelerating this transformation and to provide about a smarter and more sustainable planet.”

Phil Brace, president and CEO of Sierra Wireless, claimed that more than the previous yr, the company has “taken decisive steps to profitably grow the organization.

“Together with Semtech, we will be able to prolong the get to of IoT alternatives by scaling, optimizing and finally delivering an even stronger merchandise portfolio and assistance model to prospects.”

Semtech mentioned it “expects the mixed business will be well positioned to serve substantial development segments these as source chain, logistics and asset administration, utilities, such as h2o, gasoline and electrical metering, sensible cities and setting up, which include air high-quality monitoring and community security, and clever agriculture and species defense.”