Broadcom's Next-Generation StrataSwitch II Chips Enable Differentiated Services for Voice, Video and Data IP Networks.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Networld+InterOp 2001

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2001

Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq:BRCM):

StrataSwitch(TM) Family Secures More than 50 Designs,

Including Designs with All Major Network Switch Vendors

Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq:BRCM), the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling broadband communications, today announced the Broadcom(R) BCM5605 and BCM5606, the first members of its StrataSwitch(TM) II family -- second-generation multi-layer switches with enhanced ContentAware(TM) features that enable new classes of networking services. The ContentAware features found in Broadcom's existing StrataSwitch family of products have secured a wide range of designs with applications such as standalone and stackable Layer 2 - 4 wiring closet switches, modular chassis aggregation switches, fiber to the curb routing access switches, and control plane applications for optical switches.

The BCM5605 and BCM5606 enable network managers to monitor, control and bill for different types of network traffic with application appropriate priorities and bandwidth allocation to obtain the optimal performance of network resources. This results in a more intelligent use of network resources and enables a whole new set of network service applications requiring high bandwidth, reliable data transmission, low latency, and advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features such as streaming video and Voice over IP (VoIP).

The StrataSwitch II family combines new multi-service provisioning capabilities with switching, routing and traffic classification into single integrated circuits with 24 Fast Ethernet (FE) ports and two Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports. The new StrataSwitch II family, available with and without Layer 3 switching, is capable of tracking and differentiating service for up to 1024 unique network data flows. These new chips, which are built upon the original StrataSwitch architecture, enable OEMs to leverage their existing investment in system design and software.

"The StrataSwitch family architecture is being deployed in excess of 50 designs, including all the major tier one vendors," said Marty Colombatto, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Networking Business Unit. "The unparalleled combination of `Switch-on-a-Chip' integration, wire-speed performance, and ContentAware features enables StrataSwitch II to address a broad range of applications from enterprise aggregation to metro access."

"Broadcom's StrataSwitch was chosen for our next-generation chassis design as a result of its high performance, scalability and simplicity," said Cecilia Ross, Worldwide Product Marketing Manager, HP Procurve Networking. "Using the StrataSwitch, HP Procurve Networking created and designed a new switching architecture in record time, resulting in a cost-effective, high port density solution that allows our customers to easily expand their networks as they grow."

The ContentAware(TM) technology delivered in the StrataSwitch II architecture enables advanced network management capabilities in the switching infrastructure to track different data flows and monitor or control bandwidth on any one of these flows. For example, OEMs can use these new features to help implement network management tasks or routing protocols. The StrataSwitch II family of products will enable ISPs to deliver new service offerings. These include different levels of service for video, voice, and data with application appropriate prioritization done by the hardware, or the ability to charge for the bandwidth consumed by a specific network data flow, such as a TCP/IP address or socket. For the network systems administrator, the tracking capabilities provide greater insight into the consumption of network resources. Not only can IT personnel track which users consume the predominant share of bandwidth, they can also regulate and control that bandwidth consumption in an effort to make the best use of these networking resources.

StrataSwitch II products employ ContentAware(TM) packet processing -- a Layer 2 through 7 fast-filter processor (FFP) operating at line rate on all 24 FE and 2 GbE ports - to inspect packets as they pass through the network and dynamically reprioritize their importance in compliance with either the Differentiated Services IETF standard in Layer 3 or alternatively remark the Layer 2 .1p priority. To accomplish this processing, the FFP inspects the first 80 Bytes of each packet determines if the packet contents match the internally monitored network data flows and executes the appropriate packet modification. The parallel processing performance of the FFP is equivalent to 6,650 MIPS on a 64-bit network processor delivering 64 gradients of differentiated service for up to 1024 network flows. This ContentAware(TM) packet processing capability is essential for VoIP, video streaming, and other Quality of Service applications.

Broadcom offers a complete line of complementary 10/100 and Gigabit Ethernet physical layer transceivers (PHYs) for copper Category 5 as well as fiber optic cabling to support the StrataSwitch II family.

Software Support

Supporting software solutions for StrataSwitch are currently available from RADLAN, Inc. and Wind River Systems, Inc. Both vendors are expected to release supporting software solutions for the StrataSwitch II in June 2001. Broadcom also offers a complete evaluation kit, including evaluation boards, schematics, layout files and driver software, which is available today for system development.

"RADLAN's Open and Portable Embedded Network System (OpENS(TM)) is integrated with the entire StrataSwitch product line and offers advanced routing, switching and QoS technology," says Yoram Valent, President of RADLAN, Inc. "With the release of Broadcom's new chips, we are pleased to offer system vendors extended software support for the StrataSwitch II products. Coupled with a powerful development, simulation and testing environment, OpENS expedites product release by 12 months or more."

"Broadcom's StrataSwitch BCM5605 will have the added support of Wind River's Tornado(R) for Managed Switches (TMS) 2.0 software in June," said Dave Fraser, Vice President and General Manager of Wind River's Networks business unit. "TMS is a comprehensive embedded software package for OEMs developing switches, routers, and other types of Internet infrastructure equipment. TMS 2.0 currently provides complete support from Broadcom's BCM5600 and BCM5680 chipsets."

Price and Availability

The new StrataSwitch II products are available in two configurations. The BCM5605 enables line rate Layer 3 switching, and the BCM5606 enables line rate Layer 2 switching. The BCM5605 and BCM5606 StrataSwitch chips are each priced at $140 and $125, respectively, in quantities of 1,000. The BCM5605 and BDM5606 are both packaged in 600-pin TBGAs. Sample quantities of both devices are available now and are in production today.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is the leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband communications and networking of voice, video and data services. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, Broadcom designs, develops and supplies complete system-on-a-chip solutions and related applications for digital cable set-top boxes and cable modems, high-speed local, metropolitan and wide area and optical networks, home networking, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), carrier access, residential broadband gateways, direct broadcast satellite and terrestrial digital broadcast, digital subscriber lines (xDSL), wireless communications, System I/O(TM) server solutions and network processing. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and may be contacted at 949-450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, and reflect management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by us based upon information available to us at this time. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. Such information is subject to change, and we will not necessarily inform you of such changes. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with the StrataSwitch II BCM5605 and BCM5606 products include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and specific conditions in the markets we address, including the recent significant economic slowdown in the technology sector and semiconductor industry; the timing and successful completion of technology and product development through volume production; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Broadcom's technologies and products in the markets for network switching; delays in the adoption and acceptance of industry standards in those markets; the timing of customer-industry qualification and certification of our products and the risks of non-qualification or non-certification; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the loss of a key customer; the volume of our product sales and pricing concessions on volume sales; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; the effectiveness of our expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; intellectual property disputes and customer indemnification claims and other types of litigation risk; the availability and pricing of foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party semiconductor foundries and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; our ability to specify, develop or acquire, complete, introduce, market and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a timely manner; the effects of new and emerging technologies; the risks of producing products with new suppliers and at new fabrication and assembly facilities; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies and in achieving higher levels of design integration; the risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations; our ability to retain and hire key executives, technical personnel and other employees in the numbers, with the capabilities, and at the compensation levels needed to implement our business and product plans; changes in our product or customer mix; the quality of our products and any remediation costs; the effects of natural disasters and other events beyond our control; the level of orders received that can be shipped in a fiscal quarter; and other factors.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, forthcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Broadcom(R), the pulse logo(R), StrataSwitch(TM), ContentAware(TM) and System I/O(TM) are trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.