Altera DSP Solutions Speed Development of Anritsu's First-To-Market W-CDMA Tester; DSP MegaCore Functions From Altera Reduce Development Time and Lower Costs.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2001

Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR) announced today that Anritsu Corporation used Altera digital signal processing (DSP) intellectual property (IP) cores to speed the development and reduce costs for the world's first W-CDMA tester, the MD8480A. The MD8480A Signaling Tester tests, debugs, and troubleshoots wideband code-division multiple access (W-CDMA) mobile stations, which support high-speed data transfers including voice, high-resolution graphics, internet protocol packets, and video. With the introduction of the MD8480A, service providers now have the ability to deploy W-CDMA mobile stations, building a communications infrastructure that will enable the next generation of wireless data services.

During the development of Anritsu's MD8480A, standards for key DSP functions in their product were in flux. Choosing a flexible hardware solution composed of Altera's programmable logic device (PLD) and DSP-specific IP cores such as the Viterbi Compiler and FIR Compiler, Anritsu was able to shorten and complete their design cycle, as well as avoid the cost of having to develop those DSP functions themselves.

"Using Altera DSP MegaCore(R) functions saved us significant amounts of time during the development of the MD8480A, allowing us to deliver the first product of its kind," stated Mr. Ryukichi Tomita, senior engineer at Anritsu Corporation. "We would have required additional engineers with specialized knowledge had we not used the MegaCore(R) functions. The Viterbi Compiler and FIR Compiler were extremely easy to use, and by integrating those DSP functions into an APEX(TM) 20KE PLD with Altera's Quartus(R) II development tools, we were able to meet a short, fixed development schedule."

"Programmable logic combined with high-performance, easy-to-use IP cores is an ideal platform for implementing complex and time-critical designs for the communications market," said Justin Cowling, director of IP marketing at Altera. "Altera's system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions are specifically intended to enable customers like Anritsu gain a competitive edge by delivering time-to-market and cost advantages."

About Altera

Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company(R), was founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs). Altera's CMOS-based PLDs are user-programmable semiconductor chips that enhance flexibility and reduce time-to-market for companies in the communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets. By using high performance devices, software development tools, and sophisticated intellectual property cores, system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions can be created with embedded processors, memory, and other complex logic together on a single PLD. Altera common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera is available on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.

Note to Editors: Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, specific device designations and all other words that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective holders.