Atheros Super G® Technology Provides High-Performance WLAN Connectivity

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2004 – Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced its Atheros AR5004G 802.11g chipset has been embedded into two new Sharp Entertainment Mobile Note PCs. Sharp launched the Entertainment Mobile Note PC “PC-MP series,“ which includes the PC-MP70G and PC-MP50G, in the Japan market on September 9, 2004.  The new line of Entertainment Mobile Note PCs features a “one-touch” DVD player that allows consumers to watch DVDs without having to power up their PC’s operating system. Consumers can also use the PC to access content such as email, photos, and music wirelessly with Atheros’ high-performance Wi-Fi technology.

The new Entertainment Mobile Note PCs feature Atheros Super G® technology, which provides customers with very high wireless performance, as measured by end-user throughput and range. With Super G technology consumers can easily and quickly connect to the Internet, download videos, and communicate with friends and family without being tethered to their living rooms.

“Easy-to-use and reliable wireless connectivity will help drive consumer adoption of this next wave of hybrid computing and entertainment devices,” said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst, Parks Associates. “Atheros’ technology provides the range and performance that are critical for consumers to be able to enjoy video and other entertainment content when and where they want to.”

Atheros Super G technology offers a combination of innovative performance-enhancement features – packet bursting, fast frames, and data compression – that dramatically improves the throughput and range of wireless networking products. The technology supports up to 54 megabits-per-second (Mbps) data rates for users in Japan, with typical end-user throughput of up to 40 Mbps. This is the highest throughput available in the Japanese market today; Super G effectively doubles the real user throughput in comparison to 802.11g or 802.11a/g products without this enhancement. Outside Japan, with Dynamic Turbo mode activated, Super G can achieve throughputs of more than 60 Mbps.

Both of the new Sharp Note PC models will have Atheros Super G branding stickers to help users identify the feature set capabilities of the PCs. Sharp customers will be able to take advantage of a wide array of complementary Super G home networking products and public access hot spots. Japanese consumer and small business end-users have widely embraced Super G enabled access point and router products, with seven leading Japanese WLAN equipment providers offering the performance-boosting technology in their products at retail.

“Sharp’s Mobile Entertainment Note PCs are an indication of how the mobile computing and entertainment markets are colliding,” said Colin Macnab, vice president of marketing and business development of Atheros Communications. “Wireless LAN technology is going to be pervasive and present in all types of products such as wireless-enabled PCs, TVs, digital media adapters, game consoles and other entertainment devices.”

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 and networking equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to info@atheros.com.

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

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding the anticipated presence of wireless LAN technology in consumer devices, including media and entertainment devices; consumer adoption of wireless-enabled devices; and the features, performance and benefits of Atheros’ 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, difficulties in developing new and enhanced products for new markets; the effects of competition; whether the market for wireless-enabled consumer devices, including media and entertainment devices, develops and grows; general economic and market conditions; and other risks detailed in Atheros’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 as filed with the SEC 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.

For press and analyst inquiries contact: Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344, cheryl@atheros.com or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838, gwood@arpartners.com.