ATI Selects NxtWave Communications' VSB/QAM Receiver for SET-TOP-WONDER XILLEON; Dual NXT2002 Demodulators Selected by ATI for Advanced Set-Top Reference Design.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

LANGHORNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2002

NxtWave Communications Inc., a developer of broadband-communications integrated circuits (ICs) for digital broadcast television and high-speed data transmission, today announced that the NXT2002 VSB/QAM NIM (Network Interface Module) receiver has been chosen by ATI Technologies Inc. for its SET-TOP-WONDER(TM) XILLEON(TM) digital television reference design.

The SET-TOP-WONDER XILLEON and the NxtWave NIM provide a complete solution for consumer electronics manufacturers who are designing next generation integrated DTV and set-top box products for cable TV and ATSC compliant off-air markets. The NXT2002 and tuner API software are fully integrated into the SET-TOP-WONDER XILLEON software support package.

The combined hardware/software package enables manufacturers to rapidly develop new products with advanced features and high performance while decreasing their time-to-market in the rapidly expanding DTV market.

"Manufacturers are rushing to develop integrated DTV and set-top products with advanced features to meet the growing consumer demand for terrestrial DTV in the United States," said Mike Gittings, director of worldwide marketing of NxtWave Communications.

"The combined reference design provides a cost-effective, robust, feature-rich platform that can be adapted for the large variety of products required by the market."

"Together, ATI and NxtWave have taken the lead in creating a next-generation reference design for digital TV manufacturers," said Daniel Eiref, director of marketing, consumer products group, ATI Technologies. "SET-TOP-WONDER XILLEON with a NxtWave NIM is the ideal reference design for TV manufacturers who want to integrate innovative features like high-definition picture-in-picture."

The ATI SET-TOP-WONDER XILLEON reference design assists customers in the development and debug of new DTV products. The foundation of the platform is the XILLEON 220, an advanced system-on-chip (SOC) that integrates all processor, graphics, video, audio, and I/O (input and output) capabilities needed in a set-top box or digital TV.

XILLEON 220 is the only announced SOC with an integrated 300 MHz MIPS CPU and the capability of decoding two high-definition (HD) MPEG-2 streams for picture-in-picture (PIP) or dual-display applications.

To facilitate digital terrestrial reception, NxtWave developed a PIP RF-to-bits NIM using dual ALPS TDMU7 tuner/demodulator modules. The TDMU7 is powered by the NxtWave NXT2002 VSB/QAM receiver. The NXT2002 is the highest performance DTV solution on the market today.

The device demonstrates superior reception performance in the presence of multipath, phase noise, impulse noise, adjacent and co-channel interference for both terrestrial and cable environments.

For additional information about the SET-TOP-WONDER XILLEON contact ATI at http://www.ati.com or see ATI at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from Jan. 8 to 11 at booth LVCC So. 3-4/14310.

For additional information regarding the NXT2002 VSB/QAM Receiver contact the sales department of NxtWave Communications, 6 Venture, Suite 350, Irvine, Calif. 92618. Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone].

About ATI Technologies

Founded in 1985, ATI Technologies is a world leader in the supply of graphics, video and multimedia solutions for the personal computer and Mac platforms. The pioneer, innovator and market leader in the graphics industry, ATI provides cutting-edge technologies for the PC, workstation, set-top box, game console and other consumer appliances markets.

The company has more than 1,900 employees supporting customers from its headquarters in Markham, Ontario, Canada, as well as from offices in Barbados, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States. ATI common shares trade on Nasdaq (ATYT) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ATY).

About NxtWave Communications

NxtWave Communications offers the highest performing integrated circuit solutions satisfying the requirements of manufacturers of digital set-top boxes, digital TVs, PC TVs and other broadband appliances through the company's efficient and robust modulation and demodulation techniques.

NxtWave's products provide error-free digital transmissions, even with severe signal impairments commonly present in cable and terrestrial broadcast systems. The company's exclusive technology gives manufacturing customers and consumers significant cost and performance advantages.

NxtWave Communications is a privately held digital broadband communications company, with headquarters at One Summit Square, Rt. 413 & Doublewoods Road, Langhorne, Pa., 19047, with worldwide sales headquarters at 6 Venture, Suite 350, Irvine, Calif., 92618. For additional information visit www.nxtwavecomm.com.