RF Micro Devices opens test, tape, reel facility in China

Business Wire via ITWeb,

Greensboro, North Carolina, 20 Sep 2002

RF Micro Devices, Inc, a leading provider of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications applications, today announced production shipments have begun from its new test and tape and reel facility in Beijing, China. The facility is located at 17 Tongji Middle Road in the Beijing Xingwang Industrial Park, which is situated in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area in Beijing, China.

The RF Micro Devices facility provides direct, local support to Chinese handset manufacturers, original design manufacturers (ODMs) and international handset manufacturers with operations in China. The Company anticipates its local presence will help accelerate time-to-market of key components, reduce manufacturing and shipping costs and contribute to improved inventory management. In addition, the Company anticipates its strategic location in Beijing will help generate additional growth in China and other Asian countries and thereby extend its power amplifier market share leadership.

The Beijing facility demonstrates RF Micro Devices` growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region and its commitment to expansion in China, the world`s largest and fastest growing major mobile phone market. In addition to the Company`s Beijing facility, RF Micro Devices` investment in Asia-Pacific includes sales and customer support offices in Taiwan, Korea and Japan, and its employee base in this region now exceeds 100 people.

Bob Bruggeworth, president of RF Micro Devices, said: "The opening of our Beijing test and tape and reel facility greatly increases the value we provide our existing customers and enables RFMD to target additional customers with operations in China. Handset manufacturers are increasingly requiring their strategic suppliers continue to add value through reductions in cycle times and the strengthening of supply chains. The direct, local support of our Beijing facility enables us to strengthen our customers` market positions and contribute to their success. Shipments to multiple customers began today and will contribute to our revenue growth this quarter. We expect a considerable production ramp as the year progresses and other programs commence operation."

Keyword: California Arizona Iowa Massachusetts North Carolina Taiwan China Denmark Finland United Kingdom International Europe Asia Pacific Track
Industry Keyword: Photo Photowire Computers/Electronics Internet Manufacturing Networking Telecommunications

RF Micro Devices

RF Micro Devices began construction on the Beijing test and tape and reel facility in November 2001. The facility serves as the final stage of assembly for components manufactured at the Company`s Greensboro, North Carolina campus. By the end of 2002, RF Micro Devices expects the new facility will test, tape and reel over 10 million modules.

RF Micro Devices, Inc, an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer, designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) primarily for wireless communications products and applications such as cellular and PCS phones, base stations, wireless LANs, and cable television modems. The Company offers a broad array of products - including amplifiers, mixers, modulators/demodulators, and single-chip receivers, transmitters and transceivers - representing a substantial majority of the RFICs required in wireless subscriber equipment. The company`s strategy is to focus on wireless markets by offering a broad range of standard and custom-designed RFICs in order to position itself as a "one-stop" solution for its customers` RFIC needs. RF Micro Devices, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol RFMD.

RF Micro Devices336/664-1233