Conexant Introduces Single-Chip Set-Top Box Solution for Entry-Level Free-to-Air Satellite Market; High-Quality, Low-Cost Chip Targeted at STB Manufacturers in China and Asia-Pacific

RED BANK, N.J.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 11, 2004— Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today announced a digital video broadcast satellite (DVB-S) compliant set-top box (STB) system solution for the basic, entry-level free-to-air (FTA) market. The FTA market includes basic STBs that can receive unencrypted content from international satellite broadcasters at no charge, and advanced STBs which allow users to view additional premium content for a small incremental cost. The high-quality, low-cost CX24138 builds upon the technology of the company's highly successful CX2414X/5X interactive direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system solution, and introduces a new feature-set and package required by manufacturers and operators in China and other Asia-Pacific regions. Conexant also provides a complete DVB-S FTA set-top box reference design based on the CX24138 decoder and the company's CX24109 tuner, providing a complete system solution with proven components.

"Basing our new free-to-air chipset on our successful high-end interactive set-top box platform allows us to deliver a low-cost semiconductor solution with the same high-quality and performance that is inherent in our more sophisticated chipsets," said Jeff Crosby, vice president of Set-top Box Products for Conexant. "This is particularly important for manufacturers competing in high-volume markets where consumers require low prices yet demand reliable products. Also, using a common silicon platform allows manufacturers to leverage their system and software development efforts across a variety of solutions, which reduces product development time and can provide them with a competitive edge."

Free-to-air satellite and terrestrial services are gaining in popularity, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. FTA enables users to expand their viewing options beyond local broadcast content to a wide range of free programming offered by international broadcast sources without subscription. According to Michelle Abraham, a senior industry analyst with In-Stat/MDR, the FTA STB market is expected to reach 45 million units in 2008.

Conexant's CX24138 combines an MP@ML MPEG-2 video decoder, a digital audio decoder, a programmable transport stream de-multiplexer, an on-screen graphics display controller, a QPSK demodulator/forward error correction unit, TV encoder, and a high-performance, embedded 32-bit ARM920T RISC processor with integrated peripheral I/O ports. This highly integrated solution enables a low-cost STB with proven performance. The reference design package includes samples, schematics, layout, STB software drivers, tuning auto-scan function, user interfaces with Chinese and English language support, and complete hardware and software documentation, enabling manufacturers to rapidly bring their products to market with minimal development time.

The reference design is produced in Conexant's Shanghai Design Center, which was established in August 2000, providing regional manufacturers and operators with a high level of localized design and sales support. The design team works closely with customers to rapidly develop differentiated solutions based on Conexant's core integrated circuit chipsets and reference-design platforms.

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 together with a range of operating systems, middleware, drivers and development tools.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the CX24138 are available now, with volume production slated for November. The device is packaged in a 208-pin metric quad flat pack and is priced at $8.00 in quantities of 10,000.

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(SM) 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 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.

Note to Editors: 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 (Media), 949-483-7363