Altera Teams Up with Virginia Tech Research Group to Develop Next-Generation Wireless Solutions.

Business/Technology Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001

Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group Uses Altera Devices in

Smart Antenna, Software-Defined Radio, and W-CDMA Projects

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) announced today that it is working with the Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group (MPRG) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to develop leading-edge wireless communications technology for manufacturers, government and consumer service providers, and regulatory agencies. In addition to engaging in research, the MPRG also provides a high caliber education experience for graduate and undergraduate engineering students pursuing careers in wireless communications. By supporting the MPRG, Altera joins other leaders in their respective fields, including Motorola and Nortel Networks.

"Altera's cooperation with the MPRG accomplishes several strategic goals," stated Hiro Higuma, director of communications segment marketing. "First, our devices get developed into the next wave of wireless technology products. Second, we gain insight into the future requirements of these products, aiding us in our product planning. Finally, we expose the next generation of engineers in this field to the benefits of System-On-A-Programmable Chip (SOPC) solutions, allowing them take immediate advantage of the industry's leading programmable logic from the start of their professional careers."

Several existing MPRG projects rely on Altera products, including those in the areas of W-CDMA transceivers, software-defined radio, and smart antennae. These technologies share a common factor that makes them ideal candidates for programmable logic implementation: they require more flexibility and higher performance than are available in either off-the-shelf application-specific standard products (ASSPs) or custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA)

Wideband code-division multiple access (W-CDMA) is a 3G mobile communications standard offering data speeds to wireless devices that are significantly higher than those offered by the current generation of technology. W-CDMA can support high-speed data transmissions, including voice, images, and data. Once implemented, W-CDMA communications systems are expected to unleash a new generation of information services and entertainment options.

"In our W-CDMA research, we developed a single-channel W-CDMA transceiver using an Altera APEX(TM) device," said Dr. Dong Ha, Professor, Virginia Tech VLSI for Telecommunications Lab, Virginia Tech. "In the next version of the project, I plan to use Altera's Nios(TM) embedded processor because its customizability makes it a good choice to handle tasks like tap delays, finger assignment and channel estimation."

Software-Defined Radio

Given the evolving state of wireless standards, service providers are seeking cost-effective systems that can be adapted to different protocols (i.e., 2G, 2.5G and 3G standards) and frequency bands so that they can support a wide variety of customers. One technology, called software-defined radio (SDR) provides this capability by implementing protocol- and frequency-specific functions with a programmable, generic platform. SDR systems require high-speed signal processing to realize next generation wireless protocols. They also need the in-field programmability provided by PLDs so they can be altered to support the specific protocols and frequency bands desired by a service provider.

"The requirements for high-performance and in-field reconfigurability make programmable logic a good choice for SDR applications," noted Dr. Jeff Reed, head of MPRG. "Altera's products are a significant part of our efforts to realize commercial SDR solutions which are robust as well as cost effective."

Smart Antenna

Future wireless protocols like 3G will enable high-speed data services, including web browsing and other internet-related activities. However, one of the problems associated with transmitting high data rates over the air is that it can generate interference for other users. One potential solution to this problem is smart antenna technology. However, smart antenna techniques require significant digital signal processing (DSP) as well as I/O throughput that off-the-shelf DSP processors can't handle.

Dr. Jeff Reed stated, "High-performance programmable logic products like those from Altera are the right platform for the DSP tasks in smart antenna applications. In our smart antenna project, Altera programmable logic delivered the high I/O throughput we required, which was not possible using any standard DSP processor. Research has shown us that smart antenna systems like the one we built with Altera's products are going to enable a 400% increase in data throughput in next generation wireless systems."

About MPRG

The Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group (MPRG) at Virginia Tech is one of the oldest and largest academic research laboratories focusing solely on the issues associated with research, development, and deployment of modern wireless communication systems. Founded in 1990, the group currently supports four core faculty, ten associated faculty, eight full time staff, and approximately forty graduate students, with an annual research budget in excess of $2 million. Core funding for the MPRG is provided by a consortium of 25 Industrial Affiliates, a group that includes many of the largest wireless communications equipment manufacturers and service provides. Additional funded research projects are supported by a variety of governmental sponsors, including the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

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.