Atheros Appoints Dan Rabinovitsj as Vice President and General Manager of its Networking Business Unit

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 1, 2010 — Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a global leader in innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications, today announced that Dan Rabinovitsj has been appointed vice president and general manager of its Networking Business Unit. He will direct Atheros’ continuing efforts to expand its leadership position in the networking market, which includes routers, access points, broadband gateways and other infrastructure products for home and enterprise networks. Rabinovitsj will report to president and chief executive officer, Craig Barratt.

Atheros’ networking sales accounted for approximately half of the company’s $215 million revenues in the first quarter of 2010. As consumers and businesses continue to install and upgrade network infrastructure to accommodate more advanced applications, Rabinovitsj will lead the company’s largest business unit to expand the market for Atheros’ existing wireless LAN (WLAN), Ethernet and Powerline connectivity solutions and drive opportunities for hybrid networks that utilize multiple technologies.

Rabinovitsj has more than 20 years of experience in general management and marketing of mixed signal and analog communications semiconductors. He most recently served as senior vice president and general manager at ST-Ericsson, where he ran the 3G Entry business that resulted from mergers with Ericsson Mobile Platforms, ST Microelectronics, NXP Semiconductors and Silicon Laboratories’ cellular platforms businesses. As a founding member of the wireless business at Silicon Laboratories, Dan drove the development of the first single-chip phone in CMOS and was vice president and general manager when the company’s wireless business was acquired by NXP. Following the acquisition, Dan led the combined cellular business at NXP. Dan also held marketing roles at various companies, including AMD, where he worked on telecommunications products for wide-area networks and digital cordless phones.

“Dan brings a wealth of market and product knowledge that will further enable Atheros to expand its unique connectivity portfolio to enhance networking in the digital home and enterprise,” said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros Communications. “I am confident that Dan’s extensive experience in building international teams and customer relationships will be invaluable to Atheros’ continued growth.”

“With renowned engineering expertise and industry-leading connectivity solutions, Atheros is well positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in home and business networks,” said Dan Rabinovitsj, vice president and general manager of Atheros’ networking business unit. “I look forward to being part of a dynamic team that will navigate Atheros through the exciting changes that are happening in the networking market and expanding our footprint by enabling seamless connectivity in homes, SMBs and enterprises around the world.”

Rabinovitsj earned a Master’s degree in Asian studies Magna Cum Laude and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a global leader in innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications. Atheros combines its wireless and networking systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost, standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer, networking equipment and consumer device manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.atheros.com or send an email to info@atheros.com.

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Atheros and the Atheros logo 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 Atheros’ anticipated growth generally and the expansion of its position in the networking market in particular, 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 the development of new and enhanced products,  general economic conditions, the effects of competition and technological change, and the risks detailed in Atheros' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, 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.

For press inquires contact:: Molly Mulloy, 408-830-5850, molly.mulloy@atheros.com, or Greg Wood, A&R Edelman for Atheros , 650-762-2838, gwood@ar-edelman.com

For analyst inquires contact: David Allen, 408-830-5762, david.allen@atheros.com.