Surge protection circuit and communication apparatus

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a PHY circuit configured to transfer a signal on a physical layer;
• a computation processing unit that is coupled to the PHY circuit;
• and
• a surge protection circuit that is coupled to the PHY circuit;
• wherein
• the surge protection circuit includes
• a first terminal that is coupled to a transmission path,
• a second terminal that is coupled to the PHY circuit,
• a clamping unit that is coupled so as to branch from a line between the first terminal and the second terminal, the clamping unit clamping a voltage applied to the first terminal to a specific clamping voltage, and
• a semiconductor switch that is arranged between the second terminal and a branching point at which the clamping unit branches from the line, the semiconductor switch having a rectification direction away from the second terminal toward the first terminal, the semiconductor switch having a higher reverse breakdown voltage than a clamping voltage of the clamping unit.