In a significant step towards strengthening India’s indigenous semiconductor ecosystem, Chennai-based fabless semiconductor company Aheesa Digital Innovations (Aheesa) has partnered with The Zigma Technologies India (P) Limited (Zigma) to take its indigenous networking chip VIHAAN-I to the Indian market. Under the partnership, Zigma will serve as the distribution partner for the chip, combining Aheesa’s semiconductor design capabilities with Zigma’s extensive experience in technology deployment and e-governance infrastructure.
The agreement was signed in Mumbai and marks an important transition for VIHAAN-I from semiconductor design and validation towards commercial deployment. Aheesa said the partnership will help take the networking chip across India and eventually support its reach into global markets.
The development follows two key milestones achieved by Aheesa in 2026. The company successfully completed the tape-out of VIHAAN-I on Republic Day in January, followed by first-pass silicon success on Independence Day in August. The first-pass success on the company’s maiden attempt represents a significant achievement for an Indian semiconductor design company and paves the way for the chip to move towards production, which is targeted for 2027.
VIHAAN-I is designed to support networking and broadband applications and is aimed at reducing dependence on imported networking silicon. Its development comes at a time when India is seeking to build greater domestic capabilities across the semiconductor value chain, from chip design and manufacturing to packaging and deployment.
Sridharan Mani, Founder and CEO, Aheesa Digital Innovations, said the partnership reflects India’s transition from being primarily a consumer of technology to becoming a creator of advanced technology. He highlighted the company’s ambition to develop Indian-designed chips capable of serving both domestic and international markets, adding that the collaboration with Zigma brings together complementary capabilities and a shared vision for India’s technological growth.
For Zigma, the partnership builds on nearly three decades of experience in technology, software, hardware and e-governance services. The company has worked with government departments, OEMs and ODMs across India, developing and deploying technology infrastructure at scale. Its role as the distribution partner is expected to provide VIHAAN-I with access to an established technology ecosystem and market network.
Raja Kathiravan, Managing Director, The Zigma Technologies India (P) Limited, said indigenous semiconductor technology represents the next layer of India’s digital infrastructure. He noted that VIHAAN-I aligns with the systems and networks that Zigma has been involved in building, while Aheesa brings the indigenous chip-design capabilities required to advance this vision.
Aheesa’s semiconductor initiatives span networking and technologies for telecom, broadband, cybersecurity and edge computing. The company’s latest collaboration with Zigma comes amid increasing government and industry focus on developing a competitive domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
The partnership also aligns with the broader objectives of the government’s Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. With India increasingly focused on developing homegrown technology, collaborations that connect indigenous chip design with distribution, deployment and commercial adoption could play a crucial role in scaling Indian semiconductor innovations.
As VIHAAN-I moves towards targeted production in 2027, the Aheesa-Zigma partnership represents another step in India’s journey towards building and deploying semiconductor technologies designed within the country.
Subscribe Deshwale on YouTube
