Broadcom Announces Industry's Most Advanced 65 Nanometer Solution for Next Generation Cable, Satellite and IP Set-Top Boxes

--  Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry's most advanced system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution for next generation cable, satellite and IP set-top boxes (STBs).

The new SoC builds upon the field proven and successful family of Broadcom® advanced high definition (HD) video compression solutions by utilizing 65 nanometer process technology to significantly reduce bill of materials (BOM) costs and enable higher levels of integration and system performance versus currently available solutions. As a result, equipment manufacturers can build next generation HD digital broadcast and IP set-top boxes supporting the latest interactive features, a wide range of video compression standards and networked personal video recorder (PVR) functionality.

Consumers are demanding more advanced features from their set-top boxes, such as shared/networked PVR capabilities that allow multiple users to access content from media server boxes for playback on client boxes anywhere in the home. OEMs and operators similarly are looking for fresh user interfaces with advanced graphics and richer video contexts. In order to provide these advanced features, service providers and OEMs are demanding higher levels of performance and functionality from their semiconductor suppliers, at competitive prices.

Announced today is the BCM7405 digital set-top box on a chip This powerful solution leverages Broadcom's proven track record and market leadership in both IP and set-top box technologies to deliver unprecedented levels of processor performance, memory bandwidth, graphics speed, system security and peripheral integration.

"Our new 65 nanometer SoC provides our customers with the industry's most advanced, highest performing and most integrated solution for set-top boxes today," said Dan Marotta, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group. "With the BCM7405, Broadcom will enable a new generation of IP, cable and satellite set-top boxes with a wider array of features and applications that will change the way consumers experience and share television."

"With over 14 million PVR-enabled set-top boxes shipped in 2006, the market for PVRs in the IP, digital cable and digital satellite markets is expected to grow by 63% percent by 2010," said Michelle Abraham, Principal Analyst for In-Stat. "With its new 65 nanometer BCM7405 solution, Broadcom is enabling equipment manufacturers to address the growing demand for feature- rich, networked PVR set-top boxes with advanced user interfaces while easily transitioning to double data rate 2 (DDR2) technology."

Technical Information

The BCM7405 digital video/audio SoC builds upon Broadcom's widely deployed BCM740x family of AVC/VC-1 high definition system-on-a-chip solutions. It supports the latest in interactive features, a wide range of video compression standards (i.e. VC-1, WMV9, H.263-H.264, MPEG-4, DIVX) and offers support for digital rights management solutions, including Microsoft® DRM10, Secure Video Processor (SVP) technology (a joint venture between NDS and STMicroelectronics) and Marlin JDA (a joint development association formed by Intertrust Technologies, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Sony Corporation). Utilizing a powerful 1000 DMIPS dual-core MIPS® processor, the BCM7405's multi-stream HD networking capabilities, dual SATA-II interfaces and support for digital rights management solutions, make the BCM7405 well suited for media server applications that enable consumers to share and distribute their video content throughout their homes.

The BCM7405 includes additional key features such as:

• HD+SD Simultaneous Decode
• Very high performance graphics scaling, blitting and blending
• An extensive set of 65nm analog cores including dual SATA-II ports, Fast Ethernet PHY, triple USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 1.3, integrated video and audio digital-to-analog converters, an RF modulator and a UHF remote control receiver
• PC client usage modes to support PC-oriented content viewing on televisions
• A memory-to-memory DMA security module may be programmed for supporting AES/1DES/3DES/CSS/CPRM/CPPM/DTCP copy protection algorithms/standards
• Standby modes that offer equipment vendors significant flexibility in configuring various low-power standby modes of operation (becoming a more important factor in set-top box design)
• An integrated and highly developed, security processor with device personalization that provides real-time encryption and decryption for all content, home network and TV interfaces
• Up to 1 GB system memory support, using the latest generation of low-cost DDR2 technology, at up to 800 MHz transfer rates
• Double data rate Media Independent Interface (MII) for support of home networking chipsets

The 65 nanometer process is the most advanced lithographic node for manufacturing semiconductors in large volumes today and provides significant benefits over 90 nm and 130 nm processes by enabling lower power consumption, smaller size and higher levels of integration. For Broadcom, the move to 65 nanometer process technology is changing the competitive landscape because of the breadth and depth of the communications intellectual property the company possesses. Without a broad portfolio of market-leading solutions to integrate, competitors are not able to take full advantage of the benefits that these next-generation processes provide. Broadcom's vast communications intellectual property for transporting voice, video and data at home, work and on-the-go are helping to offer customers and service providers with a truly seamless communications experience for end users worldwide.

Availability and Pricing

The BCM7405 digital video/audio SoC is now sampling to early access customers. Pricing is available upon request. Broadcom provides a complete reference design for the BCM7405 (BCM97405) that includes support for cable, satellite and terrestrial tuners, Smart Card, CableCARD™ and DVB-CI interfaces, PCI® and mini-PCI slots, and a number of test and debug interfaces.

Broadcom also provides a complete set of software drivers and APIs, and offers support for a number of popular operating systems, including Linux® and Microsoft Windows CE®.

About Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group

Broadcom offers manufacturers a range of broadband communications and consumer electronics SoCs that enable voice, video and data services over residential wired and wireless networks. These highly integrated silicon solutions continue to enable the most advanced system solutions on the market, which include digital cable, satellite and IP set-top boxes and media servers, broadband modems and residential gateways, high definition and digital televisions, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc™ players, DVD recorders and personal video recorders.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art, system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything®.

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2006 revenue of $3.67 billion, and holds over 2,200 U.S. and 900 foreign patents, more than 6,600 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video and data. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.