Broadcom Inc.: A Global Semiconductor and Infrastructure Technology Leader
Broadcom Inc. stands as one of the world's most prominent semiconductor and infrastructure technology companies, with a rich heritage spanning over six decades of innovation and engineering excellence. Originally established in 1961 as HP Associates, a semiconductor division of Hewlett-Packard, the company has evolved through numerous transformations to become a global powerhouse in the technology sector.
The modern Broadcom emerged through a complex series of acquisitions and mergers. In 2005, private equity firms KKR and Silver Lake Partners acquired Agilent Technologies' Semiconductor Products Group for $2.6 billion, forming Avago Technologies. The company went public on NASDAQ in 2009 under the ticker symbol AVGO. The defining moment came in 2016 when Avago acquired the original Broadcom Corporation for $37 billion, creating a combined entity with $15 billion in annual revenue and retaining the Broadcom name while keeping the AVGO ticker symbol.
Today, Broadcom Inc. operates as a multinational designer, developer, manufacturer, and supplier of diverse semiconductor and infrastructure software products. The company serves critical markets including data centers, networking, broadband, wireless communications, storage, and industrial applications. As of 2024, approximately 58% of Broadcom's $51.57 billion revenue comes from semiconductor products, while 42% derives from infrastructure software solutions and services.
Under the leadership of President and CEO Hock Tan, Broadcom has strategically expanded beyond its semiconductor roots into enterprise software. Major acquisitions include CA Technologies for $18.9 billion in 2018, Symantec's enterprise security business for $10.7 billion in 2019, and most notably, VMware for $69 billion in 2023—one of the largest technology acquisitions ever completed.
Broadcom's semiconductor portfolio encompasses cutting-edge technologies across multiple domains. The company's networking solutions include advanced Ethernet switches like the Tomahawk series, with the latest Tomahawk 5 achieving speeds of 51.2 Tbit/s. Their wireless technologies power countless devices, from smartphones to IoT applications, with innovations in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular communications. Broadcom chips are ubiquitous in consumer electronics, found in devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google, as well as in Raspberry Pi single-board computers.
The company's infrastructure software division provides enterprise solutions for mainframe operations, cybersecurity, and virtualization. Through acquisitions, Broadcom has built a comprehensive software portfolio that complements its hardware offerings, creating integrated solutions for enterprise customers.
Despite its success, Broadcom has faced regulatory scrutiny regarding anti-competitive practices in both the United States and European Union, leading to settlement agreements and ongoing compliance commitments. The company has also been involved in high-profile patent litigation, including cases against Netflix and smart TV manufacturers.
With headquarters in Palo Alto, California, and approximately 37,000 employees worldwide, Broadcom continues to drive innovation in both hardware and software technologies. The company's market capitalization exceeded $1 trillion in December 2024, cementing its position among the world's most valuable technology companies and reflecting its critical role in the global digital infrastructure that powers everything from smartphones to data centers.
