Atheros Communications Endorses IEEE 802.11n Draft

New Specification Enables Product Interoperability for  Next-Generation, High Performance WLAN Products

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 19, 2006—Atheros Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless solutions, today announced support for the approved IEEE 802.11n draft. On Jan. 19, the IEEE voted unanimously in favor of the Joint Proposal specification, adopting it as the 802.11n working draft specification. The confirmation vote occurred during the IEEE’s bi-monthly meeting in Kona, Hawaii.

Atheros has actively driven the development of the 802.11n standard since 2003. The company is a founding member of the Enhanced Wireless Consortium (EWC) and a primary contributor to the group’s specification. Last week, the 802.11n proposal was established based on the EWC specification and several other elements added by the Joint Proposal group.

The specification resoundingly approved by the members of the IEEE today has been reviewed by the EWC and the Joint Proposal groups, leading to a stable first draft. With this draft specification in place, Atheros customers including PC OEMs, retail networking, enterprise, consumer electronics and handset manufacturers can now develop interoperable products based on the 802.11n draft specification, thereby enhancing the wireless user experience.

“We enthusiastically support today’s approval of the 802.11n draft,” said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros Communications. “This past October Atheros set out with the Enhanced Wireless Consortium to break the 802.11n stalemate and accelerate a draft that defines significantly higher wireless LAN performance. We have achieved this objective and are confident that our customers can now manufacture products with unprecedented performance based on our technologies that conform to this new draft.”

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.atherso.com send email to info@atheros.com.

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Atheros and the Atheros logo are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding the features, performance and benefits of 802.11n-based products and the adoption of the 802.11n draft as the final standard, 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, difficulties in development and manufacture of new products and upgraded products; unforeseen problems in the performance of 802.11n-based products upon volume production and broad deployment; whether the current draft 802.11n standard will be adopted as the final standard by the IEEE; the effects of competition and technological developments that could affect the adoption of 802.11n-based products; global economic conditions;; and other risks detailed in Atheros’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 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.