<PAGE>


As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 1996

                                                    Registration No. 333-_______

                      ------------------------------------------

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549

                                       FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------------

                               DSP COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


              Delaware                                     77-0389180
         (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
         incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)


                            20300 Stevens Creek Boulevard
                                Cupertino, California           95014
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

                               DSP Communications, Inc.
             1996 Nonstatutory Employee and Consultant Stock Option Plan
                               (Full title of the Plan)

                                     Davidi Gilo
                                Chairman of the Board
                               DSP COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            20300 Stevens Creek Boulevard
                             Cupertino, California 95014
                       (Name and address of agent for service)

                           Telephone Number  (408) 777-2700
           (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

<PAGE>

                                       Copy to:
                                Donald C. Reinke, Esq.
                                   PEZZOLA & REINKE
                           1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1300
                              Oakland, California  94612

                                   ----------------

This Registration Statement shall become effective immediately upon filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and sales of the registered securities
will thereafter be effected upon option exercises under the 1996 Nonstatutory
Employee and Consultant Stock Option Plan, under which 500,000 shares of Common
Stock are available (the "Plan").

                                   ----------------

                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Proposed        Proposed
                    Number of        Maximum         Maximum         Amount
Title of             Shares          Offering        Aggregate         of
Securities to         to be           Price          Offering      Registration
be Registered      Registered       per Share(1)     Price(1)          Fee

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock,        500,000        $48.125        $24,062,500.00    $8,298.00
$0.001 par
value per share

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended, solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee.
    Computation based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
    registrant's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
    September 9, 1996, which average was $48.125.


                                          2

<PAGE>

                                       PART II

                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

    The documents listed in (a) through (d) below are incorporated by reference
in this Registration Statement.

    (a)  The registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") on April 1, 1996, as amended by a Form 10-K/A filed with the
Commission on April 5, 1996.

    (b)  All other reports filed by the registrant since December 31, 1995,
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

    (c)  The description of securities to be registered contained in the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission on Form 8-A under the Exchange
Act and declared effective on March 7, 1995, including any amendment or reports
filed for the purpose of updating such description.

    (d)  All documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 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 registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits
the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.
Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally
liable for monetary damages for breach of


                                          3

<PAGE>

their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for (i) any breach of
their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock
repurchases or redemptions or (iv) any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.

    The registrant's Bylaws provide that the registrant shall indemnify its
directors and executive officers and may indemnify its other officers and
employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law.  The
registrant believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least
negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified parties.  The
registrant's Bylaws also permit it to secure insurance on behalf of any officer,
director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her
actions in such capacity, regardless of whether the Bylaws would permit
indemnification.

    The registrant has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and
executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in the
registrant's Bylaws.  The agreements, among other things, indemnify the
registrant's directors and executive officers for certain expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such
person in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of
the registrant, arising out of such person's services as a director or executive
officer of the registrant, any subsidiary of the registrant or any other company
or enterprise to which the person provides services at the request of the
registrant.

    There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer,
employee or other agent of the registrant as to which indemnification is being
sought, nor is the registrant aware of any pending or threatened litigation that
may result in claims for indemnification by any director, officer, employee or
other agent.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.


                    (REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)


                                          4

<PAGE>

ITEM 8.     EXHIBITS.

Exhibit Number     Exhibit Description
- --------------     ------------------------------------------------------------

     5             Opinion of Pezzola & Reinke as to the legality of the
                   securities being registered.

    23.1           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

    23.2           Consent of Pezzola & Reinke (contained in the opinion of
                   counsel filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

    24             Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of
                   this Registration Statement).


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    (a)  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 of 1933, as amended (the "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 in 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.

    (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 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.

    (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 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


                                          5

<PAGE>

and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the 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 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                          6

<PAGE>

                                      SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Cupertino, State of California, on September 12,
1996.

                                       DSP COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
                                        a Delaware corporation



                                       By:  /s/ Davidi Gilo
                                           ---------------------------
                                            Davidi Gilo
                                            Chairman of the Board


                                          7

<PAGE>

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY AND ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES

    Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Davidi
Gilo, Nathan Hod and Gerald Dogon, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue thereof.

    Further, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                    Title                              Date
- ---------                    -----                              ----

/s/ Davidi Gilo              Chairman of the Board         September 12, 1996
- -------------------------    of Directors                  ------------------
Davidi Gilo

/s/ Nathan Hod               President, Chief Executive    September 12, 1996
- -------------------------    Officer and Director          ------------------
Nathan Hod                   (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Gerald Dogon             Executive Vice President      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------    and Chief Financial Officer   ------------------
Gerald Dogon                 (Principal Financial
                             & Accounting Officer)

/s/ Lewis S. Broad           Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Lewis S. Broad


/s/ Avraham Fischer          Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Avraham Fischer


/s/ Andrew W. Schonzeit      Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Andrew W. Schonzeit


/s/ Shigeru Iwamoto          Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Shigeru Iwamoto


/s/ Neill H. Brownstein      Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Neill H. Brownstein


                                          8

<PAGE>

                                     EXHIBIT LIST


Exhibit Number     Exhibit Description
- --------------     ------------------------------------------------------------

5                  Opinion of Pezzola & Reinke as to the legality of the
                   securities being registered.

23.1               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2               Consent of Pezzola & Reinke (contained in the opinion of
                   counsel filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

24                 Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this
                   Registration Statement).


                                          9
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16137}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DSP COMMUNICATIONS INC", "cik": "0000934545", "assigned-sic": "3663", "irs-number": "770389180", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-11841", "film-number": "96629226"}, "business-address": {"street1": "20300 STEVENS CREEK BLVD", "street2": "4TH FLOOR", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014", "phone": "4087772700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1999 HARRISON STREET", "street2": "SUITE 1300", "city": "OAKLAND", "state": "CA", "zip": "94612"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 1996

                                                    Registration No. 333-_______

                      ------------------------------------------

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549

                                       FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------------

                               DSP COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                     77-0389180
         (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
         incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

                            20300 Stevens Creek Boulevard
                                Cupertino, California           95014
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

                               DSP Communications, Inc.
             1996 Nonstatutory Employee and Consultant Stock Option Plan
                               (Full title of the Plan)

                                     Davidi Gilo
                                Chairman of the Board
                               DSP COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            20300 Stevens Creek Boulevard
                             Cupertino, California 95014
                       (Name and address of agent for service)

                           Telephone Number  (408) 777-2700
           (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
                                Donald C. Reinke, Esq.
                                   PEZZOLA & REINKE
                           1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1300
                              Oakland, California  94612

                                   ----------------

This Registration Statement shall become effective immediately upon filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and sales of the registered securities
will thereafter be effected upon option exercises under the 1996 Nonstatutory
Employee and Consultant Stock Option Plan, under which 500,000 shares of Common
Stock are available (the "Plan").

                                   ----------------

                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Proposed        Proposed
                    Number of        Maximum         Maximum         Amount
Title of             Shares          Offering        Aggregate         of
Securities to         to be           Price          Offering      Registration
be Registered      Registered       per Share(1)     Price(1)          Fee

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock,        500,000        $48.125        $24,062,500.00    $8,298.00
$0.001 par
value per share

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended, solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee.
    Computation based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
    registrant's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
    September 9, 1996, which average was $48.125.

                                          2
PART II

                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

    The documents listed in (a) through (d) below are incorporated by reference
in this Registration Statement.

    (a)  The registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") on April 1, 1996, as amended by a Form 10-K/A filed with the
Commission on April 5, 1996.

    (b)  All other reports filed by the registrant since December 31, 1995,
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

    (c)  The description of securities to be registered contained in the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission on Form 8-A under the Exchange
Act and declared effective on March 7, 1995, including any amendment or reports
filed for the purpose of updating such description.

    (d)  All documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 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 registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits
the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.
Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally
liable for monetary damages for breach of

                                          3
their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for (i) any breach of
their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock
repurchases or redemptions or (iv) any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.

    The registrant's Bylaws provide that the registrant shall indemnify its
directors and executive officers and may indemnify its other officers and
employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law.  The
registrant believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least
negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified parties.  The
registrant's Bylaws also permit it to secure insurance on behalf of any officer,
director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her
actions in such capacity, regardless of whether the Bylaws would permit
indemnification.

    The registrant has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and
executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in the
registrant's Bylaws.  The agreements, among other things, indemnify the
registrant's directors and executive officers for certain expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such
person in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of
the registrant, arising out of such person's services as a director or executive
officer of the registrant, any subsidiary of the registrant or any other company
or enterprise to which the person provides services at the request of the
registrant.

    There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer,
employee or other agent of the registrant as to which indemnification is being
sought, nor is the registrant aware of any pending or threatened litigation that
may result in claims for indemnification by any director, officer, employee or
other agent.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.

                    (REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)

                                          4
ITEM 8.     EXHIBITS.

Exhibit Number     Exhibit Description
- --------------     ------------------------------------------------------------

     5             Opinion of Pezzola & Reinke as to the legality of the
                   securities being registered.

    23.1           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

    23.2           Consent of Pezzola & Reinke (contained in the opinion of
                   counsel filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

    24             Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of
                   this Registration Statement).

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    (a)  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 of 1933, as amended (the "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 in 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.

    (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 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.

    (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 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

                                          5
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the 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 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                          6
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Cupertino, State of California, on September 12,
1996.

                                       DSP COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                       By:  /s/ Davidi Gilo
                                           ---------------------------
                                            Davidi Gilo
                                            Chairman of the Board

                                          7
POWER OF ATTORNEY AND ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES

    Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Davidi
Gilo, Nathan Hod and Gerald Dogon, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue thereof.

    Further, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                    Title                              Date
- ---------                    -----                              ----

/s/ Davidi Gilo              Chairman of the Board         September 12, 1996
- -------------------------    of Directors                  ------------------
Davidi Gilo

/s/ Nathan Hod               President, Chief Executive    September 12, 1996
- -------------------------    Officer and Director          ------------------
Nathan Hod                   (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Gerald Dogon             Executive Vice President      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------    and Chief Financial Officer   ------------------
Gerald Dogon                 (Principal Financial
                             & Accounting Officer)

/s/ Lewis S. Broad           Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Lewis S. Broad

/s/ Avraham Fischer          Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Avraham Fischer

/s/ Andrew W. Schonzeit      Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Andrew W. Schonzeit

/s/ Shigeru Iwamoto          Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Shigeru Iwamoto

/s/ Neill H. Brownstein      Director                      September 12, 1996
- -------------------------                                  ------------------
Neill H. Brownstein

                                          8
EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit Number     Exhibit Description
- --------------     ------------------------------------------------------------

5                  Opinion of Pezzola & Reinke as to the legality of the
                   securities being registered.

23.1               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2               Consent of Pezzola & Reinke (contained in the opinion of
                   counsel filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

24                 Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this
                   Registration Statement).

                                          9