New German chipmaker Communicant Semiconductor Technologies and its investors Intel, the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) and the Brandenburg Investment Bank have entered into binding agreements to provide equity for the $1.3 billion foundry facility currently built in Frankfurt. The remaining funds are to be provided in the form of government incentives and loan guarantees.
The Communicant fabrication facility is expected to become operational in the first quarter of the year 2003, with production of the memory chips for wireless communication planned to start by year-end 2003. At full capacity, the facility will have an output of 30,000 eight-inch (200mm) wafers per month. Prototyping services will be available in third quarter 2002.
The new integrated circuits manufacturer Communicant serves the RF and mixed-signal markets. It offers advanced modular SiGe:C and LDMOS-based CMOS and BiCMOS process technologies for high-speed, low-power applications and single-chip solutions. Communicant is located in Frankfurt (Oder), 50 miles east of Berlin in the state of Brandenburg, Germany.
The Government of the Emirate of Dubai made a large investment in the planned chip foundry, with a follow-up project in the DAFZA intended to be launched at a later date. Last year, DAFZA handed over the first $40 million of its planned $250 million capital commitment. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
