Intel’s long agonizing foray into communications semiconductor business is coming to an end. Andrew Schmitt has the latest scoop that and says that Cortina Systems will buy Intel’s communications business for an undisclosed amount of money.

My initial reaction is mild dissapointment. I was hoping the divestiture of the Intel assets would trigger much needed consolidation in the Comm Semi industry

In the go-go 1990s, Intel went on a comm-buying binge and built a sizeable (if not quite profitable business) that included everything from network processors to SONET modules and what not. But like all big companies that rely on one core product line for most of their profits (in this case personal computers), Intel never really find its sweet spot in the communications business.