Zurich-based startup 3db Access AG is a pioneer in secured low-power Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology and is currently a preferred IP provider for major automotive brands. The startup has joined the Infineon Technologies AG family, a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT, boasting €14.2 billion in revenue in 2022.
Since 2013, 3db Access has been developing and commercialising secure, ultra-low power and high-precision integrated Ultra-Wideband (UWB) ranging and sensing solutions. It offers integrated products that enable a broad range of applications, including provable secured access to valuable assets (vehicles, buildings), secured proof of proximity for seamless mobile payments and real-time high accuracy and precision localisation of connected, intelligent devices. Major automotive brands are already relying on 3db's solutions.
Infineon, a Germany-based semiconductor company with around 56,200 employees worldwide and €14.2 billion in revenues in the 2022 fiscal year (ending 30 September), is acquiring 100 percent of the 3db Access shares to further strengthen its portfolio for secured smart access, precise localisation and enhanced sensing. Infineon now adds UWB to its connectivity range, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth / Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC solutions. The first set of IoT use cases includes secured access and authentication, accurate location tracking and indoor navigation, and presence detection utilising UWB radar implementations.
“The expertise of 3db in Ultra-Wideband technology accelerates Infineon’s IoT roadmap for leveraging the market opportunities of secured, connected devices. Our combined strengths enable the UWB roll-out to address additional automotive, industrial and consumer IoT applications as the next logical step,” said Thomas Rosteck, President of Infineon’s Connected Secure Systems division. ABI Research expects the UWB chipset market to grow at an annual 13 percent, amounting to approximately US$3.1 billion by 2028. “Together, we will now create full system solutions with unique features which combine low-power consumption, enhanced physical layer security, feature-rich Radio Frequency (RF) frontend configurations and localisation-optimised hardware architecture.”
”With Smartphone manufacturers adding UWB capability in the latest and future generations of their products, the demand for UWB-capable devices is expected to grow significantly. Our mission is to open up the best of this technology to smartphones and cars and enable standalone integration in low-power IoT devices,” said Boris Danev, Co-Founder and CEO of 3db Access AG. “As part of Infineon, we will strive to enrich secured localisation and sensing functionalities for major IoT and automotive applications. We are now evolving from an IP provider to a team of experts selling solutions from our own fabs.”
Prior to the acquisition, ETH Zurich spin-off 3db was maintaining a strategic partnership with ETH. Infineon is poised to develop this relationship even further, in addition to intensified collaboration in the relevant standardisation bodies for secured localisation and sensing. Moreover, Infineon's broad market access is backed by extensive R&D activities. With 59 R&D sites worldwide, Infineon currently holds more than 31,000 patents and invests an annual 13 percent of its revenues in R&D.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the amount of the transaction.
(Press release/RAN)
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