

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual  Report (Form
10-K) of Actel Corporation of our report dated January 22, 2003, included in the
2002 Annual Report to Shareholders of Actel Corporation.

     Our  audits  also  included  the  financial  statement  schedule  of  Actel
Corporation  listed  in Item  14(a) of this  Annual  Report  (Form  10-K).  This
schedule is the responsibility of the Company's  management.  Our responsibility
is to express an opinion  based on our audits.  In our  opinion,  the  financial
statement  schedule  referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole,  presents fairly in all material respects
the information set forth therein.

     We also  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference  in the  Registration
Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 33-74492, 333-3398, 333-71627,  333-36222,  333-43274,
333-54652,  and 333-81926) of our report dated January 22, 2003, with respect to
the  consolidated  financial  statements of Actel  Corporation  incorporated  by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2002,
and our report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial
statement  schedule  included  in  this  Annual  Report  (Form  10-K)  of  Actel
Corporation.


                                                           /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Jose, California
April 4, 2003



