Conexant Expands Fiber Optic Access Semiconductor Portfolio; Leading-Edge Family of Controllers Enables Next-Generation Triple-Play Services over Passive Optical Networks.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications and the digital home, today expanded its broadband access product portfolio with a new family of system-on-chip (SoC) controllers for passive optical networks (PON). The CX9520X "Xenon II" family of controllers is designed for optical network units (ONUs) on the client-side of fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), multi-dwelling-unit (MDU) and fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) EPON/GE-PON applications. PON is used by service providers worldwide to provide a high-speed "last mile" connection from the central office (CO) to homes and businesses over a fiber optic cable, and enables the cost-effective delivery of triple-play voice, video and data services.

Support for voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), as well as IP multicasting is included to facilitate real-time IP voice and video applications. Coupled with the company's market-leading Accelity VDSL2 chipset, Xenon II provides service providers with a cost-effective system solution for FTTN and MDU applications. In addition, Xenon II controllers can be used with the company's media processing, wireless LAN and home networking chipsets to deliver quality of service (QoS) on every link of the home network. QoS refers to a network system's ability to sustain a given service at or above its required minimum performance level.

"Fiber networks provide virtually unlimited bandwidth, which makes them ideal for delivering voice, video and data traffic," said Akram Atallah, senior vice president and general manager of Conexant's Broadband Access business unit. "Demand for triple-play services is growing, but a lower price point on the client-side is necessary to drive widespread deployment and consumer adoption. Xenon II meets this need, delivering high-performance and key optical networking features that support the complete delivery of broadband triple-play services to the digital home."

"Network operators worldwide are looking to quickly scale PON installations to facilitate the transition from simple data-only to advanced triple-play voice, video and data services," said Ian Eigenbrod, senior research analyst with IDC. "However, both PON infrastructure and equipment costs remain an obstacle to greater deployments. Highly integrated silicon solutions with advanced QoS features will be key to providing the combination of lower system costs and improved performance needed to accelerate market growth."

Additional features include Conexant's complete protocol stack, which enables the seamless integration of new features, reduces customer development costs, streamlines product development, and reduces time to market.

Conexant is the market leader in broadband access semiconductor solutions, and has shipped more than 150 million DSL ports worldwide. The company's central office and customer premises equipment semiconductor solutions include a full range of standards-based integrated circuits, software and reference designs for asymmetric and symmetric DSL applications including ADSL2plus, SHDSL and VDSL2.

Availability and Pricing

The Xenon II processor family is sampling now, with production quantities scheduled for May 2006. Prices begin at $26.50 for high-volume applications.

About Conexant

Conexant's innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks.

Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant's suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug(R) and HomePNA(TM). The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines.

Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company with an annual revenue run-rate in excess of $900 million. The company has approximately 2,500 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Conexant or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements in this release that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the uncertainties of litigation, including claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights or demands that we license third-party technology and the demands it may place on the time and attention of our management and the expense it may place on the company; the risk that capital needed for our business and to repay our convertible notes will not be available when needed; the risk that the value of our common stock may be adversely affected by market volatility; general economic and political conditions and conditions in the markets we address; the substantial losses we have incurred; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by our products and our customers' products; continuing volatility in the technology sector and the semiconductor industry; demand for and market acceptance of our new and existing products; our successful development of new products; the timing of our new product introductions and our product quality; our ability to anticipate trends and develop products for which there will be market demand; the availability of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in our product mix; product obsolescence; the ability of our customers to manage inventory; our ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; and possible disruptions in commerce related to terrorist activity or armed conflict, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Conexant is a registered trademark of Conexant Systems, Inc. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.