Zarlink

The story of Zarlink begins not with its own founding, but as a division within Mitel Corporation, a company established in 1973 by the duo of Terry Matthews and Michael Cowpland. This semiconductor group inside Mitel was a powerhouse of innovation, developing the industry's first T1/E1 framer chip in 1982 and a pioneering echo cancellation chip in 1996. A key move came in 1998 when Mitel acquired GEC-Plessey Semiconductor, significantly boosting its wireless and RF technology capabilities. A major pivot occurred in 2001. Mitel decided to focus purely on the booming semiconductor market. It sold its well-known PBX systems division, along with the Mitel name itself, back to co-founder Terry Matthews. The remaining chip business was rebranded as Zarlink Semiconductor, a name chosen to signify a "leader in connectivity." Now an independent entity headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Zarlink specialized in mixed-signal integrated circuits for communications and, notably, for the medical field, such as ultra-low-power radios for implantable devices. As a fabless company, Zarlink outsourced most of its manufacturing to focus on design and innovation. This strategy attracted attention, and in 2011, the final chapter of its independent story was written. After a series of offers, Zarlink became the subject of a takeover by Microsemi Corporation. The acquisition, valued at over $630 million, marked the end of Zarlink's journey as a standalone company, absorbing its specialized technology and talent into the larger Microsemi portfolio.