Silicon Labs

Corporate brand

A fabless semiconductor company focused on secure, low-power wireless connectivity, microcontrollers, and software for the Internet of Things.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Silicon Labs, formally Silicon Laboratories, Inc., is a fabless semiconductor and software company headquartered in Austin, Texas. It designs integrated circuits, wireless system-on-chips, microcontrollers, modules, development tools, and software stacks for connected products. Its principal customers are electronics manufacturers and design engineers building products for the Internet of Things, including smart-home equipment, industrial controls, lighting, metering, building automation, healthcare devices, consumer electronics, and commercial infrastructure. The company was founded in 1996 by Nav Sooch, Dave Welland, and Jeff Scott, who had previously been associated with Crystal Semiconductor. Silicon Labs initially concentrated on radio-frequency and CMOS integration. Its first commercial product, introduced in 1998, was a smaller and less expensive updated data access arrangement for modems. The product helped establish the company commercially, with reported sales rising sharply between 1998 and 1999. Silicon Labs followed with a CMOS RF synthesizer for mobile phones in 1999, broadening its early reputation in mixed-signal and radio-frequency design. During the 2000s, the company expanded beyond modem and mobile RF components into timing products, microcontrollers, automotive electronics, broadcast and television receivers, power-over-Ethernet interfaces, human-interface sensors, and digital radio. It became a public company in 2000 and used acquisitions to add embedded processing, wireless networking, timing, isolation, security, and development-software capabilities. Acquisitions included Cygnal Integrated Products, Ember, Energy Micro, Bluegiga, Micrium, Zentri, and the Z-Wave business acquired from Sigma Designs. Under CEO Tyson Tuttle, appointed in 2012, Silicon Labs increasingly oriented its portfolio around IoT applications. The company developed wireless devices and software supporting Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Wi-SUN, proprietary sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz protocols, Amazon Sidewalk, and Matter-related applications. Its Wireless Gecko and Gecko families combined processing, radio, security, and development support in platforms intended to shorten the design cycle for connected products. Simplicity Studio provides an integrated development environment, software libraries, examples, configuration tools, and debugging support for developers. The company has also emphasized embedded security. Its Secure Vault architecture and related capabilities include secure boot, protected key storage, hardware cryptography, tamper detection, device identity, secure debug, anti-rollback protection, and manufacturing-time security controls. These features are designed for connected devices that must authenticate firmware, protect credentials, and resist physical or software attacks over long service lives. In 2021, Silicon Labs agreed to sell its infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions for $2.75 billion. The transaction closed in July 2021 and sharpened Silicon Labs' strategic focus on IoT wireless connectivity and embedded platforms. Tyson Tuttle began stepping down as chief executive in 2021, and Matt Johnson completed the transition to CEO in January 2022. In February 2026, Texas Instruments announced an intention to acquire Silicon Labs for $7.5 billion; the supplied reference describes this as an announced intent rather than a completed transaction. Silicon Labs therefore remains identified here as an active public company, subject to the status of that proposed transaction.

History

Silicon Labs was established in Austin in 1996 by Nav Sooch, Dave Welland, and Jeff Scott, alumni of Crystal Semiconductor. The founders initially pursued mixed-signal and radio-frequency integration, seeking to reduce the size, cost, and component count of communications electronics. The company's first commercial product appeared in 1998: an updated data access arrangement used in modems. Its compact design and lower cost helped the young company gain customers and contributed to a substantial increase in reported sales from 1998 to 1999. The company continued its early RF work with a CMOS radio-frequency synthesizer for mobile phones, released in 1999. Silicon Labs became publicly traded in 2000. During the following decade it diversified into timing, microcontrollers, broadcast receivers, automotive electronics, power-over-Ethernet, sensors, isolation, and other mixed-signal products. Product development increasingly combined analog functions, digital processing, embedded software, and communications interfaces in highly integrated devices. Acquisitions were an important part of this expansion. Silicon Labs acquired Krypton Isolation, Cygnal Integrated Products, Silicon Magike, Silembia, Integration Associates, Silicon Clocks, ChipSensors, SpectraLinear, Ember, Energy Micro, Touchstone Semiconductor, Bluegiga, Telegesis, Micrium, Zentri, and other assets or businesses. The purchases brought in MCU architectures, wireless mesh expertise, embedded operating systems, timing technology, modules, sensors, and connectivity software. In 2018, the company acquired the Z-Wave business from Sigma Designs, strengthening its position in smart-home networking. A strategic redirection became especially visible after Tyson Tuttle became CEO in 2012. Silicon Labs began placing greater emphasis on the emerging IoT market, where customers needed complete development platforms rather than isolated chips. The company expanded the Gecko product families, including EFM32 microcontrollers and EFR32 wireless SoCs, while supporting Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, proprietary sub-GHz protocols, and later Wi-SUN and Matter-related products. Simplicity Studio became a central software environment for configuring devices, writing firmware, testing radio performance, and managing development kits. Silicon Labs also built security into its IoT positioning. Secure boot, cryptographic acceleration, protected secret storage, device identity, secure debugging, anti-rollback mechanisms, secure manufacturing, and tamper detection addressed the risks of deploying large numbers of connected devices in homes, factories, buildings, utilities, and infrastructure. The company participated in industry organizations including the Zigbee Alliance, Thread Group, Bluetooth SIG, Wi-Fi Alliance, Z-Wave Alliance, Wi-SUN Alliance, Open Connectivity Foundation, and RISC-V Foundation. In April 2021, Silicon Labs announced the sale of its infrastructure and automotive activities to Skyworks Solutions for $2.75 billion. Closing in July 2021, the divestiture left the company more concentrated on IoT wireless products and related software. Tuttle's departure was announced during the same year, and Matt Johnson completed the CEO transition in January 2022. In February 2026, Texas Instruments announced an intended $7.5 billion acquisition of Silicon Labs. Because the supplied material describes an intention rather than a completed closing, the company's ownership and final post-transaction structure require continuing verification.

2022
Matt Johnson becomes CEO
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Matt Johnson completed the transition from president to chief executive after Tyson Tuttle's departure.
2021
Infrastructure and automotive divestiture
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Silicon Labs agreed to sell its infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions for $2.75 billion; closing occurred in July.
2018
Z-Wave platform
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
The company launched the Z-Wave 700 hardware and software IoT platform after acquiring the Z-Wave business.
2016
Gecko multiprotocol wireless SoCs
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Silicon Labs released Gecko-family multiprotocol wireless system-on-chips.
2015
Thread networking technology
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
The company launched Thread-related technology for connected sensors, thermostats, lighting, and control systems.
2012
Expansion into IoT and ARM-based MCUs
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Silicon Labs expanded its IoT strategy and introduced ARM-based 32-bit mixed-signal microcontrollers.
2003
Entry into mixed-signal microcontrollers
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
The company entered the MCU market with analog-intensive, high-speed 8-bit devices.
2000
Public listing
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Silicon Labs became a publicly traded company.
1999
RF synthesizer introduced
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Silicon Labs introduced a CMOS RF synthesizer for mobile phones and released its first RF chip.
1998
First commercial modem product
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
The company released an updated data access arrangement that reduced modem size and cost.
1996
Silicon Labs is founded
[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Nav Sooch, Dave Welland, and Jeff Scott founded the company in Austin after working at Crystal Semiconductor.

Products and positioning

A developer-oriented IoT semiconductor platform provider combining low-power wireless connectivity, embedded processing, security, protocol software, modules, and design tools.

Wireless system-on-chip · 2016
EFR32 Gecko
EFR32 wireless SoCs combine a microcontroller core, radio, memory, peripherals, and security features for connected products. Families support technologies such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, proprietary sub-GHz communications, and multiprotocol designs. They are used in battery-powered sensors, smart-home devices, lighting, industrial controls, and other IoT equipment.
32-bit microcontroller · 2012
EFM32 Gecko
EFM32 devices are low-power 32-bit microcontrollers for embedded applications. They provide processing, analog and digital peripherals, memory, and power-management features intended for battery-operated and energy-sensitive products.
8-bit microcontroller · 2003
EFM8
EFM8 microcontrollers extend Silicon Labs' mixed-signal MCU portfolio with compact 8-bit devices compatible with the MCS-51 instruction set. They target cost-sensitive embedded control and sensing applications.
Development software
Simplicity Studio
Simplicity Studio is Silicon Labs' integrated development environment for IoT products. It provides device configuration, software libraries, protocol stacks, examples, development-kit support, debugging, and tools for building firmware around the company's microcontrollers and wireless SoCs.
Embedded security
Secure Vault
Secure Vault is a hardware-and-software security architecture for connected devices. Its capabilities include device identity, protected key management and storage, secure boot, cryptographic acceleration, tamper detection, true random-number generation, secure debug, and defenses against firmware rollback.
IoT connectivity
Wireless protocol platforms
Silicon Labs supplies SoCs, modules, transceivers, software stacks, and development tools for Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Wi-SUN, Amazon Sidewalk, proprietary sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz networks, and Matter-oriented products. These platforms address smart-home, industrial, commercial, utility, and building applications.

Brand decisions

2026
Proposed acquisition by Texas InstrumentsM&A
Background
Texas Instruments announced an intention to acquire Silicon Labs, potentially changing the company's ownership and strategic position in embedded and IoT semiconductors.
Action taken
Texas Instruments announced an intended acquisition valued at $7.5 billion. The supplied reference does not confirm that the transaction had closed.
Aftermath
The final ownership, closing status, and post-transaction operating structure require verification.
Announced acquisition value. $7.5 billion (February 2026 announcement)
Source
2021
Sale of infrastructure and automotive business to SkyworksM&A
Background
Silicon Labs was increasingly concentrating on IoT connectivity and embedded platforms, while its infrastructure and automotive activities represented a separate business area.
Action taken
The company announced a $2.75 billion sale of the infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions. The transaction closed on July 26, 2021.
Aftermath
The divestiture left Silicon Labs more focused on IoT wireless semiconductors, software, modules, and development tools.
Transaction value. $2.75 billion (Announced April 22, 2021; closed July 26, 2021)
Source

Recent events

2026
Texas Instruments announces intent to acquire Silicon Labs[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Texas Instruments announced an intended acquisition of Silicon Labs for $7.5 billion. The supplied reference does not establish that the transaction had closed.
2022
Matt Johnson completes transition to chief executive[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change
Following Tyson Tuttle's planned departure, former president Matt Johnson completed the transition into the CEO role.
2021
Silicon Labs sells infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company announced a $2.75 billion sale of its infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions; the transaction closed on July 26, 2021.
2021
Silicon Labs agrees to sell infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Silicon Labs announced the divestiture of its infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions for $2.75 billion. The transaction was completed in July 2021 and refocused the company on IoT products.
2021
Silicon Labs expands support for Matter end products[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Product launch · Other
The company announced support for developing Matter products using combinations of Thread, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
2000
Silicon Labs becomes a public company[1]Silicon Labsen.wikipedia.org
Other
Silicon Labs began trading publicly, later using the NASDAQ ticker SLAB.

Sources15 sources

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