Aheesa Digital Innovations Unveils Indigenous Broadband Chip Vihaan-I

Indian semiconductor startup Aheesa Digital Innovations has unveiled Vihaan-I, an indigenous broadband networking chip designed to strengthen India’s capabilities in semiconductor product development and reduce dependence on imported solutions for critical digital infrastructure.

The Chennai-based deep-tech company showcased the chip at SEMICON India 2026, highlighting the growing contribution of Indian startups towards building a domestic semiconductor ecosystem that extends beyond chip design services into complete semiconductor products.

Vihaan-I represents an important step in India’s efforts to develop indigenous semiconductor technologies for applications including broadband connectivity, networking infrastructure and next-generation digital systems.

Built on Open RISC-V Architecture

Vihaan-I is based on the RISC-V open instruction set architecture, a technology platform increasingly adopted worldwide for developing customised processors and semiconductor solutions.

The chip incorporates indigenous processor technology developed through India’s semiconductor innovation ecosystem, including technologies emerging from national initiatives focused on promoting domestic chip design capabilities.

The use of RISC-V architecture provides flexibility for developing application-specific semiconductor solutions while supporting greater control over processor design and intellectual property.

Moving From Chip Design Services to Semiconductor Products

India has historically been recognised as a global hub for semiconductor design and engineering services, with thousands of engineers contributing to chip development for international companies.

However, the development of products such as Vihaan-I represents a shift towards creating indigenous semiconductor intellectual property and commercial chip solutions.

Startups like Aheesa Digital Innovations are working towards developing homegrown semiconductor products that address specific market requirements while contributing to India’s broader semiconductor manufacturing and technology ambitions.

Strengthening Digital Infrastructure Through Indigenous Chips

Broadband networks and communication infrastructure depend heavily on specialised semiconductor components. Developing domestic solutions in this area can help strengthen supply-chain security and reduce dependence on imported technologies.

Indigenous broadband chips could support applications across telecommunications, networking equipment, enterprise connectivity and emerging digital infrastructure requirements.

The development also aligns with India’s broader semiconductor strategy, which focuses on building capabilities across the entire value chain — from chip design and fabrication to packaging, testing and deployment.

Role of Startups in India’s Semiconductor Mission

The emergence of semiconductor startups marks a new phase in India’s technology ecosystem, where young companies are increasingly working on advanced hardware products rather than only software-based solutions.

Along with established semiconductor players, startups are contributing to areas such as:

• RISC-V based processors
• Artificial intelligence chips
• Communication semiconductors
• Power electronics
• Automotive chips
• Embedded systems

Government initiatives such as the Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme and support for deep-tech innovation have encouraged more companies to enter semiconductor product development.

Building India’s Semiconductor Future

The unveiling of Vihaan-I highlights the growing maturity of India’s semiconductor startup ecosystem and the increasing ability of domestic companies to develop advanced chip solutions.

While semiconductor manufacturing requires large-scale infrastructure and long development cycles, innovations from startups provide the foundation for creating indigenous intellectual property and specialised technologies.

Aheesa Digital Innovations’ Vihaan-I represents the broader transformation of India’s semiconductor landscape — from being primarily a design and services hub towards becoming a developer of homegrown semiconductor products for future digital infrastructure.