TRENDnet Launches WLAN Product Portfolio Based on Atheros Performance-Enhancement Technologies

Atheros Super G, Super AG and VLocity MIMO Increase Speed and Coverage of Wireless LANs

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 18, 2005 — Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless solutions, today announced TRENDnet has introduced three high-performance wireless LAN (WLAN) product lines featuring Atheros’ Super G®, Super AG® and VLocity™ MIMO technologies. TRENDnet, a best-in-class manufacturer of wired and wireless networking solutions, is offering new wireless networking products that deliver higher end-user throughput and more extended coverage than devices implementing standard 802.11g and 802.11a/g. Atheros’ performance-enhancement technologies enable users to enjoy the throughput and coverage benefits of networking equipment that also interoperates seamlessly with standard 802.11g and 802.11a/g devices.

Atheros’ popular Super G and Super AG offer the industry’s highest wireless networking performance at the lowest retail cost. The technologies support up to 108 megabits-per-second (Mbps) link rates, and enable real end-user throughput of up to 60 Mbps. The features have been integrated into wireless products by leading retail, enterprise and PC OEM manufacturers worldwide to differentiate product performance over standard 802.11g and 802.11a/g products. Super G and Super AG technologies employ multiple, advanced technologies including 20/40 MHz dynamic channel mode with adaptive radio technology, packet bursting and packet aggregation. These features dramatically increase the throughput of wireless networking products and are elements of the leading specification proposals for 802.11n.

The VLocity MIMO technology combines Atheros’ Super features with Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques known as beamforming and maximal ratio combining. This MIMO capability extends coverage allowing users to enjoy a wide variety of wireless applications throughout the entire home. Wireless products based on VLocity MIMO technology deliver up to a four times improvement in speed and double the coverage of standard 802.11g solutions when VLocity MIMO products are on both ends of the wireless link. When connected to a standard 802.11g client device or Atheros Super G product, users can expect up to a 50 percent increase in WLAN performance.

 “It is important for us to offer our customers a Wi-Fi performance upgrade path that doesn’t require throwing out their current wireless products,” said Heath Gregory, Marketing Director of TRENDnet. “Their high performance, cost and compatibility with existing wireless LAN products made Atheros’ technologies the ideal choices for our enhanced Wi-Fi product lines.”

Atheros Vice President of Marketing Todd Antes added, “Our Super and VLocity MIMO features continue to be very popular with our customers and their consumers alike, given the high performance and coverage they offer at affordable prices. We are pleased to be working with TRENDnet to extend Atheros' performance features to products that deliver an excellent wireless user experience.”

For more information about TRENDnet WLAN product availability and the latest pricing, please visit http://www.trendnet.com/products/c_wireless.htm.

About TRENDnet

Headquartered in Torrance, California, with branches in Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia and Taiwan, TRENDnet is a global supplier of networking products to business partners in over 110 countries worldwide. TRENDnet is a dynamic organization responsive to the diverse business climates around the world. This focus has established TRENDnet as a global networking brand, recognized for high quality, low prices, exceptional performance and great service. For more information visit www.trendnet.com or call +1 (310) 891-1100.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is a leading developer of semiconductor system solutions for wireless communications products. Atheros combines its wireless systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated chipsets that are manufacturable on low-cost, standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is being used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer, networking equipment and handset manufacturers. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to info@atheros.com.

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Atheros, Super G and Super AG are registered trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. and VLocity is a trademark of Atheros Communications, Inc.  Other names used are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the features, performance and benefits of Atheros’ Super G, Super AG and VLocity MIMO technologies; the future inclusion of Atheros’s products in TRENDnet’s product lines; and the anticipated extension of Atheros’s performance features to more products, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products and technological advances; whether TRENDnet is successful in marketing and selling its products that incorporate Atheros’s products; general economic conditions; and other risks detailed in Atheros’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other reports filed with the SEC by Atheros from time to time. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof.  Atheros disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.