Atheros XSPAN Draft 802.11n Technology Achieves Strong Worldwide Momentum with Leading Wireless LAN Customers

Atheros Technology Leadership Extends Company’s Success in Diverse, Growing Wireless Markets

CES CONFERENCE, LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2007 — Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless solutions, announced it is demonstrating its industry leadership with an array of new wireless technologies and solutions at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Atheros is showing the expanded performance of its XSPAN® 802.11n technology and the real-world networking benefits that are enjoyed by consumers today: multiple, simultaneous streaming of HD video, audio, multi-player gaming, VoIP and data—all on a single wireless LAN (WLAN) network. Additionally, Atheros is featuring its growing portfolio of ROCm® designs for the mobile and embedded markets which is bringing industry-leading Wi-Fi connectivity to a wide array of handheld and consumer electronics applications. The company is also demonstrating its JumpStart 2.0 implementation of the industry’s new, easy-to-use Wi-Fi Protected Setup® specification developed by members of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Broad Adoption of XSPAN by the Industry’s Leading Manufacturers

At the 2006 CES, Atheros previewed its XSPAN draft 802.11n solutions. Today, XSPAN is the most widely adopted 802.11n technology in the retail networking and PC OEM markets. Atheros’ leading 802.11n solutions are featured in approximately 50 products worldwide. On the show floor, the company is showcasing commercially available laptops, wireless routers, access points (APs) and adapter cards from D-Link Corporation, Belkin International, Inc., Corega Taiwan Inc., I-O Data Device, Inc., Lenovo, Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc., NEC Corporation, Siemens and TRENDnet.

Expanding Performance, Expanding Possibilities

The expanded triple-play demonstration shown in Atheros’ booth is made possible by XSPAN with Signal-Sustain Technology™, the world’s only 802.11n triple-radio solution. The technology provides up to 300 Mbps data rates for seamless operation of high-bandwidth applications, even at the far corners of large homes.

Radio-on-Chip for Mobile VoIP                      

Atheros’ wireless VoIP display shows two handset designs featuring the AR6101G 802.11g single-chip solution, the newest member of Atheros’ ROCm family of WLAN embedded technologies. The AR6101G delivers clear, uninterrupted voice, even in the noisy wireless environment of the CES show floor. The innovative VoIP design accomplishes this feat with the industry’s most highly-integrated, compact and low-power VoIP handset solution.  

JumpStart 2.0 - Easy-to-Configure Wireless Setup and Security

Working with the Wi-Fi Alliance, Atheros has been a leading force behind the development of the Wi-Fi Protected Setup specification, test bed and certification process. Atheros is demonstrating its JumpStart 2.0 implementation of the Wi-Fi Protected Setup, which allows consumers to easily configure and secure personal networks with computers, routers, wireless printers, home entertainment devices and mobile products – such as dual-mode handsets, cameras and VoIP phones.

AMD’s Better by Design Program

Atheros is a key wireless partner in AMD’s Better by Design Program which launched today at CES. The program highlights best-of-breed wireless networking and PC graphics technologies complementary to AMD’s processors to deliver PCs with better overall system performance. With this program, AMD customers will be able to easily select wireless networking solutions from Atheros to support an array of PC platforms.

“Atheros continues to push the innovation envelope to deliver better capacity, Quality-of-Service and ease-of-use in a growing array of wireless products,” said Todd Antes, vice president of marketing for Atheros. “We are committed to providing simple, seamless and secure wireless solutions to enable the most compelling user experience in the home and mobile markets.”

For more details or to see a product demonstration, please visit Atheros’ CES booth located in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 4, 36524.

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 send email to info@atheros.com.

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Atheros, the Atheros logo, XSPAN, ROCm and Signal-Sustain Technology are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.

NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding the features, performance, competitiveness 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 development and manufacture of new products and upgraded products, unforeseen problems in the performance of the products upon broad deployment, general market conditions, the effects of competition and technological change, and other risks detailed in Atheros' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 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.