SoftBank has disclosed plans to acquire Ampere Computing, a semiconductor design company in the US, for an impressive $6.5 billion. The deal is orchestrated through SoftBank’s subsidiary, Silver Bands 6 Corp, pivoting towards the AI and energy-efficient computing sectors. This acquisition fine-tunes SoftBank’s strategy in the rapidly expanding field of AI computing.
Focusing on high-performance computing based on ARM architecture, Ampere Computing is known for its energy-efficient solutions. The merger is poised to enhance SoftBank’s foothold in AI computing, beneficial as AI-driven data processing workloads escalate. The company’s press release states, “The Transaction is aligned with SBG’s broader strategic vision and commitment to driving innovation in AI and compute.”
Though approved by SoftBank’s board, the acquisition awaits regulatory nods, notably from US antitrust authorities and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). SoftBank anticipates the deal’s conclusion in the latter half of the current year, leading to Ampere becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.
Last year, in June, SoftBank was instrumental in establishing the Global Telco AI Alliance with partners like Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom, e&, and Singtel. This venture focuses on telco AI development, encompassing investment from each entity. The alliance aspires to develop Large Language Models (LLMs) that address specific telco needs, such as enhancing customer interactions using digital assistants and chatbots.
These models will cater to the quintet’s specific market demands, reaching approximately 1.3 billion customers across 50 countries. This significant reach exemplifies the potential impact of these developments on global communication networks.
