RDA Microelectronics

RDA Microelectronics, Inc. operates as a fabless semiconductor company, focusing on the design, development, and marketing of wireless system-on-chip (SoC) and radio-frequency (RF) semiconductors. The company was founded in 2004 by Shuran Wei and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. Initially established as Himix Technologies, the firm was co-founded with local entrepreneurs and private equity firm Warburg Pincus to address growth opportunities in the semiconductor industry.

Shuran Wei, who holds a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, brought significant industry experience to the venture. His background includes roles as a manager for integrated circuit design at LSI Corp. and Marvell Semiconductor, as well as founding Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. in 2002. This deep expertise in semiconductor design has been a core component of the company's foundation.

RDA Microelectronics follows a fabless business model, concentrating on the design and marketing of its products while outsourcing the manufacturing process. This strategy allows for a focus on its core competency: creating highly integrated, high-performance RF and mixed-signal wireless SoCs. The company primarily serves manufacturers of wireless devices, particularly those based in China, by providing high product integration and rapid time-to-market. Its client base includes mobile handset design houses and manufacturers of set-top boxes and other consumer electronics.

The company's product portfolio is extensive, covering cellular, connectivity, and broadcast applications. Key products include power amplifiers, transceivers, front-end modules, baseband processors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and FM combo chips, GPS, and various tuners for television and radio reception. These components are integrated into a wide range of consumer electronics such as mobile handsets, set-top boxes, and MP3 players.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock exchange in November 2010 under the symbol RDA. The IPO raised approximately $100 million. Another key event was the acquisition of baseband provider CoolSand in March 2012, which expanded RDA's product offerings and market reach. In July 2014, RDA Microelectronics was acquired by Tsinghua Unigroup, a subsidiary of Tsinghua University, for approximately $907 million. This acquisition led to the company being delisted from NASDAQ and integrated with Spreadtrum Communications to form a new entity, later known as UNISOC.

Keywords: fabless semiconductor, wireless SoC, radio-frequency semiconductors, RF chips, mixed-signal IC, cellular connectivity, broadcast applications, power amplifiers, baseband processors, Bluetooth system-on-chip, Wi-Fi chips, FM radio receivers, set-top box tuners, mobile television receivers, Tsinghua Unigroup, UNISOC, Shuran Wei, consumer electronics components, mobile handset design