Broadcom Chip Unit Targeted in Widening U.S. Antitrust Probe
- FTC investigation said to examine exclusive dealing practices
- Inquiry is focused on Broadcom’s Wi-Fi and switch-chip sales
A Broadcom Corp. touch screen digitizer integrated circuit chip.
Photographer: Brent Lewin/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
U.S. antitrust officials investigating Broadcom Inc. are significantly broadening their scrutiny to focus on whether the chipmaker abused its dominance to sell some of its most important semiconductor products, according to documents and a person familiar with the probe.
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking evidence that Broadcom’s conduct harmed competition in Wi-Fi and switch-chip markets, according to a civil investigative demand issued last week and obtained by Bloomberg News. The agency is looking into whether the company forced customers to deal with it exclusively.