<PAGE>   1
            As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 7, 2000
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                      94-3186995
   ------------------------              ---------------------------------------
   (State of Incorporation)              (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)


                             1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                          Mountain View, CA 94039-7267
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                   ----------

                       2000 NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plans)

                                   ----------

                                Robert G. Gargus
                                    President
                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
                             1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                          Mountain View, CA 94039-7267
                                 (650) 968-9252
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                   ----------

                                    Copy to:
                              J. Robert Suffoletta
                     WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
                               650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, California 94304
                            Telephone: (650) 493-9300

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================================================================================================
                                         AMOUNT        PROPOSED MAXIMUM   PROPOSED MAXIMUM     AMOUNT OF
TITLE SECURITIES TO                       TO BE         OFFERING PRICE       AGGREGATE       REGISTRATION
   BE REGISTERED                        REGISTERED        PER SHARE (1)     OFFERING PRICE         FEE
=============================================================================================================
<S>                                     <C>            <C>                <C>                <C>
Common Stock to be issued
   under the 2000 Nonstatutory
   Stock Option Plan                      700,000           $24.375           $17,062,500      $4,505.00
</TABLE>


----------

(1)      The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share was estimated pursuant to
         Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The
         per share price was determined by reference to the average of the high
         and low prices per share of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
         National Market on May 31, 2000.

================================================================================


<PAGE>   2
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents and information previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by TelCom Semiconductor,
Inc. (the "Company") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement:

        (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

        (b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2000, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

        (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

        All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which de-registers all securities
then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of
directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides
that directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages
for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability (i) for
any breach of their duty of loyalty to the company or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments or dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases or redemptions as provided Section 174 of Delaware General
Corporation Law or (iv) for transactions from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.

        The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
officers and directors and may indemnify its employees and other agents to the
fullest extent provided by Delaware law, including those circumstances where
indemnification would otherwise be discretionary under Delaware law. The Company
believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least negligence on the
part of indemnified parties. The Bylaws authorize the use of indemnification
agreements and the Company has entered into such agreements with each of its
directors and officers.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>   3
        The Company carries officer and director liability insurance with
respect to certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

        Delaware Law does not permit a corporation to eliminate a director's
duty of care, and the provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
have no effect on the availability of equitable remedies such as injunction or
rescission, based upon a director's breach of the duty of care. Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Exchange Act may be permitted
to foregoing provisions and agreements, the Company has been informed that in
the opinion of the staff of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Exchange Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

        Not Applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT
   NUMBER                         DESCRIPTION
   ------                         -----------
<S>            <C>
     4.1       2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
     5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants
    23.2       Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
    24.1       Power of Attorney (see page II-4)
</TABLE>

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

        (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement.

        (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

        (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

        (4) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

        (5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Exchange Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the



                                      II-2
<PAGE>   4

event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Exchange
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-3
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on this 7th
day of June, 2000.

                                       TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                                       By: /s/ ROBERT G. GARGUS
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Robert G. Gargus,
                                           President

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Phillip M. Drayer and Robert G.
Gargus, and each of them acting individually, as his or her attorney-in-fact,
each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities,
to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and
to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or any substitute, may do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons on June 7, 2000
in the capacities indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Signature                                   Title
            ---------                                   -----
<S>                                       <C>
 /s/ PHILLIP M. DRAYER                    Chief Executive Officer
 -----------------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)
 Phillip M. Drayer                        And Director

 /s/ MARK BROWN                           Chief Financial Officer
 -----------------------------------      (Principal Financial Officer and
 Mark Brown                               Chief Accounting Officer)


 /s/ ROBERT G. GARGUS                     Director
 ----------------------------------
 Robert G. Gargus

 /s/ DONALD FOWLER                        Director
 ----------------------------------
 Donald Fowler

 /s/ FRANK GILL                           Director
 ----------------------------------
 Frank Gill

 /s/ T. PETER THOMAS                      Director
 ----------------------------------
 T. Peter Thomas
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   6
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT
   NUMBER                           DESCRIPTION
   ------                           -----------
<S>            <C>
     4.1       2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
     5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants
    23.2       Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
    24.1       Power of Attorney (see page II-4)
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 13960}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR INC", "cik": "0000917415", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "943186995", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-38744", "film-number": "650686"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1300 TERRA BELLA AVE", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94039", "phone": "4129689252"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1300 TERRA BELLA AVE", "street2": "1300 TERRA BELLA AVE", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94039"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "TELCOM UNIVERSAL INC", "date-changed": "19950627"}}
1
            As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 7, 2000
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                      94-3186995
   ------------------------              ---------------------------------------
   (State of Incorporation)              (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                             1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                          Mountain View, CA 94039-7267
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                   ----------

                       2000 NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plans)

                                   ----------

                                Robert G. Gargus
                                    President
                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
                             1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                          Mountain View, CA 94039-7267
                                 (650) 968-9252
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                   ----------

                                    Copy to:
                              J. Robert Suffoletta
                     WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
                               650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, California 94304
                            Telephone: (650) 493-9300
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================================================================================================
                                         AMOUNT        PROPOSED MAXIMUM   PROPOSED MAXIMUM     AMOUNT OF
TITLE SECURITIES TO                       TO BE         OFFERING PRICE       AGGREGATE       REGISTRATION
   BE REGISTERED                        REGISTERED        PER SHARE (1)     OFFERING PRICE         FEE
=============================================================================================================
Common Stock to be issued
   under the 2000 Nonstatutory
   Stock Option Plan                      700,000           $24.375           $17,062,500      $4,505.00
----------

(1)      The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share was estimated pursuant to
         Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The
         per share price was determined by reference to the average of the high
         and low prices per share of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
         National Market on May 31, 2000.

================================================================================
2
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents and information previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by TelCom Semiconductor,
Inc. (the "Company") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement:

        (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

        (b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2000, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

        (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

        All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which de-registers all securities
then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of
directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides
that directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages
for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability (i) for
any breach of their duty of loyalty to the company or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments or dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases or redemptions as provided Section 174 of Delaware General
Corporation Law or (iv) for transactions from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.

        The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
officers and directors and may indemnify its employees and other agents to the
fullest extent provided by Delaware law, including those circumstances where
indemnification would otherwise be discretionary under Delaware law. The Company
believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least negligence on the
part of indemnified parties. The Bylaws authorize the use of indemnification
agreements and the Company has entered into such agreements with each of its
directors and officers.

                                      II-1
3
        The Company carries officer and director liability insurance with
respect to certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

        Delaware Law does not permit a corporation to eliminate a director's
duty of care, and the provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
have no effect on the availability of equitable remedies such as injunction or
rescission, based upon a director's breach of the duty of care. Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Exchange Act may be permitted
to foregoing provisions and agreements, the Company has been informed that in
the opinion of the staff of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Exchange Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

        Not Applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
   NUMBER                         DESCRIPTION
   ------                         -----------
4.1       2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
     5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants
    23.2       Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
    24.1       Power of Attorney (see page II-4)
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

        (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement.

        (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

        (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

        (4) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

        (5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Exchange Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the

                                      II-2
4

event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Exchange
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
5
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on this 7th
day of June, 2000.

                                       TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                                       By: /s/ ROBERT G. GARGUS
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Robert G. Gargus,
                                           President

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Phillip M. Drayer and Robert G.
Gargus, and each of them acting individually, as his or her attorney-in-fact,
each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities,
to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and
to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or any substitute, may do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons on June 7, 2000
in the capacities indicated:
Signature                                   Title
            ---------                                   -----
/s/ PHILLIP M. DRAYER                    Chief Executive Officer
 -----------------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)
 Phillip M. Drayer                        And Director

 /s/ MARK BROWN                           Chief Financial Officer
 -----------------------------------      (Principal Financial Officer and
 Mark Brown                               Chief Accounting Officer)

 /s/ ROBERT G. GARGUS                     Director
 ----------------------------------
 Robert G. Gargus

 /s/ DONALD FOWLER                        Director
 ----------------------------------
 Donald Fowler

 /s/ FRANK GILL                           Director
 ----------------------------------
 Frank Gill

 /s/ T. PETER THOMAS                      Director
 ----------------------------------
 T. Peter Thomas
6
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
   NUMBER                           DESCRIPTION
   ------                           -----------
4.1       2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
     5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants
    23.2       Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
    24.1       Power of Attorney (see page II-4)