Conexant Launches Family of High-Definition Television Decoders for Set-Top Boxes; New Solutions Feature Support for Personal Video Recording Applications

RED BANK, N.J.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 27, 2004— Conexant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today unveiled a new family of decoders for high-definition television (HDTV) set-top boxes (STBs) with support for personal video recorder (PVR) applications deployed in digital satellite, cable or terrestrial networks. An HDTV STB decoder performs navigation through a digital broadcast service and securely decodes authorized program content for presentation on an HDTV display. The CX2417X decoders can be used in conjunction with Conexant's CX24118 satellite tuner and advanced modulation demodulators such as the CX24116 DVB-S2 demodulator or the CX24114 8PSK demodulator. This provides manufacturers with a cost-effective STB semiconductor system solution for MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 advanced video coding (AVC/H.264) HDTV broadcast receivers.

"The deployment of high-definition programming worldwide will provide consumers with an exceptional video and audio experience," said Jeff Crosby, vice president of Set-top Box Products for Conexant. "Our new HDTV decoders provide the performance, connectivity, and expandability features needed by operators and manufacturers to develop consumer products for this fast growing market."

According to industry analyst firm In-Stat/MDR, the increase in integrated HD television sets in the United States, Japan and Asia, will drive the growth of HD decoders from under one million units in 2002 to over 63 million units in 2008. Set-top boxes represent approximately 12 million units of the total expected market in 2008.

The CX2417X family features a complete suite of hardware and interfaces to process, format and display high-definition digital content with full support of high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP). The multi-format decoders support MPEG-1, MPEG-2, Dolby(R) Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, MPEG-4 advanced audio coding (AAC) and aacPlus(TM). It is compatible with industry broadcast standards including DVB, ATSC and DIRECTV.

PVR functionality is fully supported enabling end-users to simultaneously watch and record up to four separate programs, or record a program while watching up to two live or previously recorded programs.

The CX2417X family is based on an ARM92X central processing unit that enables complex, feature-rich middleware platforms such as MediaHighway(TM), OpenTV(R), Multimedia Home Platform (JHP) and OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) to be adopted by broadcasters. The device family also incorporates an innovative set of security technologies that enhances the ability of broadcasters to protect their service against piracy. These include an advanced on-chip one-time-programmable (OTP) memory technology that allows broadcasters to personalize individual STBs with unique serial numbers and encryption keys. The CX2417X family also includes embedded cryptographic technology to allow secure authentication of the STB system software that is loaded into the flash memory.

Conexant offers a comprehensive suite of digital STB components and system solutions for worldwide satellite, terrestrial and cable entertainment broadcasting networks. The company's product offering includes silicon tuners, satellite demodulators, MPEG audio and video decoders, and dial-up modems for back-channel applications. Complete reference designs that help manufacturers reduce cost and speed time-to-market are also available, bundled with a range of operating systems, middleware, drivers and development tools.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the CX2417X MPEG-2 high-definition decoders are available now, with volume production scheduled for the first quarter of 2005. The devices are housed in a 624-pin ball grid array (BGA) package. The chips are priced at $45.00 in quantities of 5,000.

About Conexant

Conexant's innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications, enterprise networks and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks.

Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant's suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11a/b/g-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug(R) and HomePNA(TM). The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines.

Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company with annual run-rate revenues of approximately $1.0 billion. The company has approximately 2,400 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Red Bank, N.J. To learn more, please visit us at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the uncertainties of litigation; and the risk that the businesses of Conexant and GlobespanVirata will not be integrated successfully, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Conexant is a registered trademark of Conexant Systems, Inc. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.

Conexant Systems, Inc.
Gwen Carlson, 949-483-7363