Sony Semiconductor Israel
An Israeli wireless-semiconductor developer that operated under Sony ownership and specialized in LTE chipsets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sony Semiconductor Israel was the name used by the Israeli semiconductor business formerly known as Altair Semiconductor. The company was founded in May 2005 in Hod Hasharon by Oded Melamed, Yigal Bitran, and Eran Eshed, a team with earlier experience in broadband and wireless silicon development. Several members of the founding group had been associated with Libit Signal Processing, a fabless chip company acquired by Texas Instruments in 1999. Altair initially worked across emerging wireless standards, including Mobile WiMAX and Japan's XGP, before concentrating its resources on 3GPP Long-Term Evolution, or LTE, from 2006 onward. The business developed high-performance, low-power wireless chipsets rather than manufacturing semiconductors in its own fabrication plants. Its portfolio included LTE baseband processors, multiband radio-frequency transceivers, reference platforms, and protocol-stack software. The technology used a software-defined-radio architecture and was designed to support both frequency-division duplex and time-division duplex LTE across a broad range of global frequency bands. Target applications included tablets, notebooks, USB modems, fixed customer-premises equipment, smartphones, machine-to-machine devices, and Internet of Things products. Altair gained visibility as LTE moved from trials into commercial deployment. Its FourGee-3100 platform was presented as an early commercial-grade LTE user-equipment solution. The company later demonstrated high-speed TD-LTE with SoftBank in Japan and became the first chipset supplier certified for Verizon Wireless's 4G LTE network, according to the company's reference history. Verizon subsequently selected Altair technology for the Ellipsis 7 tablet, while an LTE version of the HP Chromebook 11 used an Altair chipset. These engagements demonstrated the company's ability to supply silicon for both operator-branded consumer devices and broader connected-device programs. The company remained privately held during its independent period and had raised more than $120 million by 2013. In January 2016, Sony announced an agreement to acquire Altair for approximately $212 million. The transaction brought the Israeli wireless-chip business into Sony's semiconductor organization and was intended to strengthen Sony's capabilities in sensing, connectivity, and semiconductor technologies. The company was renamed Sony Semiconductor Israel on 29 March 2020. Nohik Semel became chief executive in 2019, succeeding co-founder Oded Melamed. The Sony Semiconductor Israel name was subsequently discontinued. In 2025, the Israeli operation was separated from Sony International and renamed Altair Semiconductor, with Sony stating that a substantial share of ownership was transferred to employees. Consequently, Sony Semiconductor Israel is best understood as a former Sony-era corporate identity rather than the current name of the operating business. The available reference material describes the company's historical LTE communications activities; it does not establish that the entity became an image-sensor research center. Its documented product identity was wireless connectivity silicon, particularly LTE baseband and radio-frequency technology.
History
Altair Semiconductor was established in May 2005 by Oded Melamed, Yigal Bitran, and Eran Eshed in Hod Hasharon, Israel. The founders brought experience from the wireless and broadband semiconductor sector, including experience connected with Libit Signal Processing, which Texas Instruments acquired in 1999. Altair operated as a fabless semiconductor company, creating chip designs and associated software while relying on external manufacturing. In its early years, Altair investigated multiple wireless broadband standards. It developed technology for Mobile WiMAX and Japan's XGP standard before making a strategic decision in 2006 to focus on 3GPP LTE. LTE ultimately became the dominant global 4G mobile-broadband standard, while WiMAX did not achieve comparable carrier adoption. This shift placed Altair in a market with expanding operator deployments and demand for compact, inexpensive, energy-efficient connectivity modules. The company developed the FourGee family of products. Its offerings covered baseband processing, RF transceivers, reference hardware, and LTE protocol-stack software. The designs supported FDD and TDD operation and multiple frequency bands, allowing device manufacturers and operators to address different regional network configurations. The technology was intended for tablets, netbooks, USB modems, customer-premises equipment, smartphones, and connected machines. Altair announced the FourGee-3100, an LTE user-equipment platform, in 2009. In 2011, it demonstrated a TD-LTE download speed above 100 Mbit/s over the air with SoftBank in Japan. In 2012, Verizon Wireless certified Altair technology for its 4G LTE network. The same year, SK Telecom, Ericsson, and Altair demonstrated handover between FDD and TDD modes on a single device. In 2013, the company introduced the FourGee-3800 and FourGee-6300 families and won additional industry recognition. Verizon selected an Altair chipset for its Ellipsis 7 tablet, and the LTE version of the HP Chromebook 11 subsequently used Altair silicon. Altair was privately financed and had raised more than $120 million by 2013. Sony announced its acquisition of the company in January 2016 for approximately $212 million. The transaction integrated the Israeli operation into Sony's semiconductor organization. In 2019, Nohik Semel became chief executive, replacing co-founder Oded Melamed. The company changed its name to Sony Semiconductor Israel on 29 March 2020. The Sony-era identity did not remain permanent. Reference material states that in 2025 the Israeli operation was separated from Sony International, renamed Altair Semiconductor, and given a substantially employee-held ownership structure. The Sony Semiconductor Israel name therefore represents a historical corporate phase between the independent Altair business and its later re-emergence under the Altair name. The available material documents a wireless-connectivity semiconductor business, not a dedicated Sony image-sensor brand.
- 2025
Business separated and renamed Altair Semiconductor
[1]The operation was reportedly separated from Sony International, returned to the Altair Semiconductor name, and moved toward substantial employee ownership.
- 2020
Renamed Sony Semiconductor Israel
[1]The former Altair business adopted the Sony Semiconductor Israel name on 29 March.
- 2019
Nohik Semel becomes chief executive
[1]Nohik Semel succeeded co-founder Oded Melamed as chief executive.
- 2016
Sony acquisition announced
[1]Sony announced the purchase of Altair Semiconductor for approximately $212 million.
- 2014
HP Chromebook LTE deployment
[1]The LTE version of the HP Chromebook 11 was reported to use an Altair chipset.
- 2013
FourGee-3800 and FourGee-6300 introduced
[1]Altair announced new LTE-Advanced chipset and transceiver products and was recognized with an LTE North America chipset award.
- 2012
Verizon LTE certification and FDD/TDD handover demonstration
[1]Verizon certified Altair technology for its 4G LTE network, while Altair, Ericsson, and SK Telecom demonstrated FDD-to-TDD handover on one device.
- 2011
TD-LTE speed demonstration
[1]With SoftBank, Altair demonstrated an over-the-air TD-LTE download speed exceeding 100 Mbit/s.
- 2009
FourGee-3100 announced
[1]Altair announced an early commercial-grade LTE user-equipment solution based on the FourGee-3100.
- 2008
WiMAX World chip-design award
[1]Altair received a Best of WiMAX World award in the chip-design category.
Products and positioning
A fabless wireless-semiconductor developer focused on compact, power-efficient LTE connectivity silicon for consumer, carrier, enterprise, and machine-to-machine devices.
LTE baseband and RF chipset · 2009
FourGee-3100
A Category 3 LTE baseband and radio-frequency chipset solution conforming to 3GPP Release 9. It supported peak downlink rates of up to 100 Mbit/s and was positioned for LTE user equipment and connected-device designs.
LTE-Advanced baseband chipset · 2013
FourGee-3800
A Category 4 LTE-Advanced baseband and RF solution supporting up to 150 Mbit/s and specifications associated with 3GPP Releases 9, 10, and 11. It targeted mobile and fixed broadband equipment.
LTE-Advanced baseband chipset
FourGee-3802
A Category 6 LTE-Advanced chipset solution designed for peak rates of up to 300 Mbit/s and support for the relevant 3GPP LTE-Advanced releases.
LTE RF transceiver
FourGee-6202
A multiband LTE-FDD and LTE-TDD MIMO transceiver covering frequencies from approximately 400 to 2700 MHz. It was designed to pair with LTE baseband solutions in regional and multimode devices.
LTE RF transceiver · 2013
FourGee-6300
A multiband LTE-FDD and LTE-TDD MIMO transceiver supporting frequencies from approximately 400 to 3800 MHz, broadening the range of network bands addressable by the company's chipset platforms.
Mobile WiMAX chipset
FourGee-2150/6150
A historical Mobile WiMAX baseband and RF integrated chipset implementing the Wave 2 Mobility System Profile MAC and PHY feature set. It predates the company's full strategic concentration on LTE.
XGP chipset
FourGee-4150
A chipset compliant with the PHS MoU eXtended Global Platform 4G standard, implementing the associated physical-layer and media-access-control functions.
Brand decisions
2025
Separate the business from Sony and restore the Altair identityM&ABackground
The Sony Semiconductor Israel name represented a period of ownership by Sony's international and semiconductor businesses.
Action taken
The operation was reportedly split off from Sony International, renamed Altair Semiconductor, and given a substantial employee-held ownership share.
Aftermath
Sony Semiconductor Israel ceased to be the operating name, while the business returned to its earlier Altair identity.
2020
Adopt the Sony Semiconductor Israel nameOtherBackground
Following Sony's acquisition of Altair, the Israeli business operated within Sony's semiconductor structure.
Action taken
The company was renamed Sony Semiconductor Israel on 29 March 2020.
Aftermath
The name linked the Israeli wireless-chip operation more directly to Sony's semiconductor organization until the reported 2025 separation and return to the Altair name.
2016
Sony acquires Altair SemiconductorM&ABackground
Altair had developed LTE connectivity silicon and established relationships with network operators and device manufacturers.
Action taken
Sony announced the acquisition of the Israeli company for approximately $212 million and incorporated it into Sony's semiconductor organization.
Aftermath
The transaction placed Altair's wireless-semiconductor capabilities inside the Sony group and preceded the later Sony Semiconductor Israel identity.
Acquisition value. $212 million (January 2016 announcement)
2006
Concentrate development on LTEStrategyBackground
Altair had worked on several wireless-broadband standards, including WiMAX and Japanese XGP, while the industry was developing competing paths toward mobile broadband.
Action taken
The company shifted its strategic focus to 3GPP LTE and built its main product portfolio around LTE basebands, RF transceivers, and related software.
Aftermath
The decision aligned the company with the mobile standard that achieved broad international carrier adoption, supporting later certifications and device deployments.
Recent events
- 2025
Sony Israel operation separates and returns to the Altair Semiconductor name[1]
M&A · Other
The operation was reportedly split off from Sony International, renamed Altair Semiconductor, and transferred a substantial ownership share to employees.
- 2020
Altair Semiconductor becomes Sony Semiconductor Israel[1]
Leadership change · Other
The Israeli business adopted the Sony Semiconductor Israel name on 29 March 2020 after operating as Altair Semiconductor.
- 2020
Altair Semiconductor renamed Sony Semiconductor Israel[1]
Leadership change · Other
The company adopted the Sony Semiconductor Israel name on 29 March 2020 after its integration into Sony.
- 2016
Sony announces agreement to acquire Altair Semiconductor[1]
M&A
Sony announced the acquisition of the privately held Israeli LTE-chipset developer for approximately $212 million.
- 2016
Sony announces acquisition of Altair Semiconductor[1]
M&A
Sony announced that it would acquire Altair for approximately $212 million, bringing the wireless-chip developer into Sony's semiconductor operations.
- 2012
Verizon certifies Altair LTE chipset[1]
Other
Altair became the first chipset vendor to receive Verizon Wireless certification for operation on the carrier's 4G LTE network.
- 2011
Altair demonstrates high-speed TD-LTE with SoftBank[1]
Other
Altair and Japanese carrier SoftBank demonstrated TD-LTE data rates exceeding 100 Mbit/s in a live over-the-air test.
- 2009
Altair announces commercial-grade LTE user-equipment platform[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The company announced the FourGee-3100, an LTE Category 3 platform intended for commercial wireless equipment.
Sources3 sources
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