Broadcom has opened a new design center in Singapore, the second one outside of the United States.
This is expected to provide extended coverage for Broadcom operations, bringing it closer to customers and manufacturers in the region. The company designs integrated circuits for the broadband communications market.
"Our expansion in Asia reflects our growing international customer base as well as the requirement to continue to exceed the demands of our round-the-clock, 365-days-a-year manufacturing needs," said Henry T. Nicholas III, president and CEO of Broadcom, during ceremonies at the center.
"With localized support for manufacturing, test, design, finance, and customer support, we expect to save time and money while gaining rapid time-to-market and customer-supplier advantages," he said.
Broadcom's Singapore operation, which is to be its headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region, is expected to eventually contribute about 60 per cent of Broadcom's revenue in a few years.
The 21,000 sq ft facility in Woodlands would be its largest design center outside of the US, according to Nicholas. Outside of the US, Broadcom also has a chip design facility in Netherlands, and one in Bangalore from the acquisition of Armedia early this year.
The facility which actually opened in May, is expected to house up to 60 research and design engineers eventually -- including IC design, system, and test development engineers -- plus more than 50 employees responsible for manufacturing support, product planning, engineering, quality assurance, finance, purchasing, and shipping and receiving.
It currently has 20 employees, but is expected to increase the number to 30 by year-end.
Broadcom works with Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and ST Assembly and Test Services in Singapore, while two of its largest customers here are 3Com and Motorola.
There are currently about 25 chip design houses in Singapore.