Broadcom became a major networking-hardware supplier after acquiring Brocade Communications in 2017.
Broadcom is a semiconductor and infrastructure-software company whose products are used in wireless communications, networking, broadband, storage, and industrial systems. Its chips often operate behind the scenes in data-center equipment and communication devices rather than appearing as consumer-facing brands.
The company completed its acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems in November 2017. Brocade was known for networking products, including Fibre Channel storage-area-network equipment. The deal strengthened Broadcom’s position in data-center networking.
Broadcom is distinct from Broadcom Corporation, the semiconductor company that Avago Technologies acquired in 2016 and then used as its new corporate name. In 2023, Broadcom completed its acquisition of VMware, expanding further into enterprise infrastructure software. Its market capitalization therefore reflects both semiconductor and software businesses.