Broadcom Corp. introduces the industry's first comprehensive VLSI cable modem architecture.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 1996--Broadcom Corp. Tuesday introduced the QAMLink Cable Modem Architecture, the industry's most cost-effective and comprehensive solution for the development of standards-compliant, high-speed hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) modems.

The QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set is the first phase of Broadcom's cable modem solution, which integrates all of the upstream and downstream physical layer modulation functions required for high-speed HFC modems.

The second phase is a complete cable modem solution in a single chip, which combines all the high-level protocols defined in the media access control (MAC) function with the upstream and downstream modulation functions.

"A single-chip, low cost, standards-compliant solution will drive volume deployment of high-speed cable modems," commented Henry Nicholas, Broadcom's president and chief executive officer. "The introduction of a single-chip, high-speed cable modem solution, at our aggressive price points, will be the first step towards obsoleting voiceband modems for residential data access."

Broadcom's QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set includes a 64/256 QAM downstream demodulator chip with forward error correction (FEC) and a QPSK/16 QAM upstream modulator chip with an integrated digital-to- analog converter (DAC).

Compliant with emerging cable modem standards, DAVIC, SCTE, IEEE 802.14 and ITU, the chip set supports both industry-standard FECs, ITU-T J83/ANNEX B and ITU-T J83/ANNEX A (DVB/DAVIC), and is the only integrated cable modem solution compliant with the proposed IEEE 802.14 cable modem transmission standard for 64-QAM downstream and 16-QAM upstream.

The QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set is also designed to effectively combat cable channel impairments caused by ingress, burst noise, and micro reflections.

Supported by industry leaders, Broadcom's QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set is designed into numerous cable data modems.

General Instrument Corp., a leader and innovator in RF transmission and broadband networks, co-developed the BCM3036 QAMLink Upstream Burst Modulator Chip along with Broadcom. The BCM3036 was designed for GI's SURFboard two-way over cable products.

"We believe the challenge of making a two-way over cable data solution reliable has been the upstream communications technology," commented Steve Maine, vice president of new business development for General Instrument's Telecommunications Business Unit.

"Unlike QPSK `single mode' technologies, the QPSK/16-QAM chip set jointly developed by General Instrument and Broadcom is the first reliably scaleable solution for operation in even harsh upstream environments. General Instrument expects to be among the first to deliver a robust, low-cost cable return solution. This solution will also be backward-compatible to our currently commercially deployed SURFboard telephone return network."

Motorola is an early leader in HFC data and telephony communications and is designing Broadcom's QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set into the CyberSURFR cable data modems.

"Because of our work with Broadcom on the first-generation CyberSURFR, the QAMLink Cable Data Modem Chip Set supports the `Motorola Mode' of QPSK, ensuring backward compatibility with our existing customer base as well as providing compatibility with emerging cable data standards," commented Per Suneby, general manager of Motorola's Cable Modem Products Business Unit.

Hewlett Packard is designing Broadcom's QAMLink Cable Data Modem Chip Set into the Quickburst cable data modem family. "We selected Broadcom because they are a leader in digital transmission for HFC networks," said Bill Hahn, operations manager of Hewlett Packard's Interactive Broadband Program. "We are pleased that HP Quickburst will be able to utilize this integrated chip-set in our initial deployment."

The development of the BCM3118 was in partnership with Scientific-Atlanta, which plans to use the chip in its Explorer 2000 digital set-top hitting the market next year. "The result of our partnership with Broadcom is the industry's first fully DAVIC/DVB compliant 64/256 demodulator chip," commented Bob Van Orden, business director of Digital Systems at Scientific-Atlanta.

"This announcement from Broadcom supports our strategy to develop the industries' first global standards based digital set-top box and will be an important part of our cable modem strategy."

QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set Features

Broadcom's QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set consists of a QAMLink Receiver Chip and a QAMLink Upstream Burst Modulator Chip. The chip set has two receiver options, the BCM3115 QAMLink Dual-Channel Receiver with FEC or the BCM3118 QAMLink DVB/DAVIC Receiver. The BCM3115 supports the 64-QAM ITU-T J83/ANNEX B transmission standard, and the BCM3118 supports the ITU-T J83/ANNEX A (DVB/DAVIC) transmission standard.

Both receivers support up to 256 QAM demodulation and offer downstream data rates up to 56 Mbps. Other integrated features in the BCM3115 and BCM3118 include FEC, Nyquist filters, tracking loops, and adaptive decision feedback equalizer. The BCM3118 also has an integrated 10-bit A/D converter.

Integrated features in the BCM3036 QAMLink Upstream Burst Modulator Chip include a QPSK/16 QAM upstream modulator with upstream data rates up to 8 Mbps, a programmable Reed-Solomon FEC encoder, Nyquist filters, interpolation filters, and a 10-bit DAC.

The BCM3036 helps combat upstream cable channel impairments caused by ingress. The chip compensates for severe ingress by using a frequency agile approach to avoid noisy channels not suitable for transmission.

QAMLink Cable Modem Chip Set Pricing

Each chip is separately priced. 1,000-piece pricing for the BCM3115 is $70, the BCM3118 is $70, and the BCM3036 is $40. The BCM3115 and BCM3118 are packaged in a 100-pin PQFP, and the BCM3036 is packaged in a 64-pin PQFP.

Broadcom Corp. is a leading supplier of silicon solutions for the broadband digital communications market and is a market leader for digital transmission solutions in the cable TV and cable modem markets. Broadcom's customer base includes leading equipment manufacturers in the local area network, cable TV, direct broadcast satellite, and digital microwave radio markets. -0-

NOTE: QAMLink is a trademark of Broadcom Corp.

SURFboard is a trademark of General Instrument Corp.

CyberSURFR is a trademark of Motorola Corp.

Quickburst is a trademark of Hewlett Packard Corp.

Explorer 2000 is a trademark of Scientific-Atlanta Corp.

CONTACT: Broadcom Corp., Irvine

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Rich Nelson, 714/450-8700

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Public Relations Contact:

Cathy Batchelor, 619/259-6523

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