Conexant Expands ARM Portfolio By Licensing ARM Core For High Performance Home Network Processors

Agreement Reinforces ARM's Position in Networking Space

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Mar. 25, 2003 – ARM, [(LSE: ARM) (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions today announced that Conexant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for communications applications, has licensed the ARM926EJ-S™ embedded processor core for use in its recently launched family of high performance home network processors (HNPs).

"The ARM926EJ-S core is integral to enabling the higher performance of our new home network processor family and enables us to build on our leadership position in network management and security semiconductor solutions," said Chee Kwan, vice president of Broadband Access Products for Conexant's Broadband Communications segment. "With this new core, Conexant is able to leverage our already successful family of home network processors by offering products that support a broad range of uses —from secure wireless connectivity to higher-perfomance tasks such as voice over IP and virtual private network applications."

The ARM926EJ-S core provides a significant increase in speed, and a dual 32-bit AMBA™ AHB interface for increased data bandwidth, along with a full complement of operating system (OS) support and ease of synthesis. Conexant's collaboration with ARM also spans the primary family of ARM® cores to include the ARM7TDMI® core, the ARM920T™ core and the ARM940T™ core.

"Conexant has used ARM cores in a variety of products and continues to work with ARM processor solutions for high-perfmance networking applications," said Mohamed Ben-Romdhane, director of Intellectual Property and Software for Conexant's Broadband Communications segment. "Our selection of the ARM926EJ-S solution was based on the core's flexibility in supporting a wide range of operating systems, its enhanced DSP technology for voice and video, and its configurable cache and tightly coupled memory -- all of which make it an ideal platform for our next generation of semiconductor solutions for the broadband digital home."

"The market for home network processor applications remains strong. Research firm In-Stat MDR has predicted that the overall number of silicon devices in home networks will grow from 20.5 million in 2002, to more than 167 million devices in 2006, and we see ARM technology as a major technology foundation in that growth," said Mike Inglis, executive VP, Marketing, ARM. "As one of our longest established partners, Conexant's use of the ARM926EJ-S core will enable them to integrate high-performance, flexible features into a wide range of products for use in home network processors and other broadband communications products."

The ARM926EJ-S macrocell is fully synthesizable and features a 32-bit RISC CPU, enhanced DSP functionality, ARM Jazelle® technology, flexible size instruction and data caches, tightly coupled memory (TCM) interfaces, memory management unit (MMU) that supports leading operating systems such as the Symbian OS, Linux, and Windows CE. It also provides separate instruction and data AMBA interconnect-compliant AHB interfaces particularly suitable for Multi-layer AHB technology-based systems. The ARM926EJ-S core includes an enhanced 16 x 32-bit multiplier, capable of single cycle MAC operations.

About ARM

ARM is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals and system-on-chip (SoC) designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming a volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com/

About Conexant

Conexant Systems, Inc., a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications, leverages its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products through two separate businesses. The Broadband Communications business develops and delivers integrated solutions that enable digital entertainment and information networks for the home and small office. Mindspeed Technologies™, the company's Internet infrastructure business, designs, develops and sells a complete portfolio of semiconductor networking solutions that facilitate the aggregation, transmission and switching of data, video and voice from the edge of the Internet to linked metropolitan area networks. Conexant is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, visit us at www.conexant.com or www.mindspeed.com.

ARM, ARM7TDMI and Jazelle are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM920T, ARM940T, ARM926EJ-S and AMBA are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; and ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.