Conexant Offers a New Line of Wideband Linear Power Amplifier Modules for Next-Generation Wireless Base Stations.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2002

New Series Addresses Cellular/PCS Base Stations and Other

Broadband Wireless Applications

Conexant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications, today introduced a new family of power amplifier modules (PAMs) targeting current- and next-generation wireless infrastructure transmitter applications. Conexant's new CX65100 series is designed to meet the performance, functionality and cost requirements of developing cellular and paging networks, personal communications systems, wireless local loop, digital cellular systems for every major standard, and mobile radio base stations operating up to 2200 MHz.

"Wireless base station manufacturers are continually challenged by the increasing demand on their networks and insist on stringent performance requirements for next-generation base stations, mobile radios and wireless local loop systems," said Mohy Abdelgany, vice president of Conexant's RF subsystems business unit. "In order to meet their concerns, we've leveraged our industry-leading GaAs HBT process technology to introduce a new family of medium-power, wideband, internally-matched power amplifier modules that enable system-cost reduction while at the same time meet next-generation performance requirements."

Technical Details

Conexant's new continuous wave wideband linear microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) PAMs achieve high gain, output power (Pout) and linearity over a wide range of frequencies. The series includes the CX65100-11 and CX65104-11 which operate from 700 to 1000 MHz, and feature typical radio frequency (RF) performance of 30 dBm Pout, up to 29.5 dB of gain, third order output intercept point (OIP3) up to 40 dBm and efficiency over 39 percent. In addition, the CX65101-11, CX65102-11 and CX65105-11 each cover the 1700 to 2200 MHz frequency range, with typical Pout up to 28.5 dBm, 22 to 24 dB of gain, up to 40 dBm OIP3, and efficiency from 24 to 30 percent. Conexant's CX65100 PAMs offer low noise figures, from 4 to 6 dB, and are designed for time division multiple access (TDMA), advanced mobile phone service (AMPS), global system for mobile communication (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and other types of modulation.

Based on Conexant's leading AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology, the series includes internal, 50 ohm input/output impedance matching, and internal active bias circuits, for ease of design and low manufacturing costs. The CX65104-11 and CX65105-11 require a +5 VDC bias voltage, while the CX65100-11, CX65101-11 and CX65102-11 operate at +3.4 VDC. Each PAM is in an 8x8 mm, 8-pin, leadless chip carrier (LCC), surface mount (SMT) package. The CX65102-11 is sold in a 6x6 mm, 6-pin LCC, SMT package.

Price and Availability

Conexant's CX65100 PAMs are available now and are priced at $4.21 in quantities of 10,000. For purchasing information, please contact a local Conexant sales office or Avnet RF & Microwave in North America at 800/532-0321.

About Conexant's Wireless Communications Business

In December 2001, Conexant and Alpha Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:AHAA) announced the signing of a definitive agreement that will combine Conexant's wireless business with Alpha to create the pure-play world leader in RF and complete semiconductor system solutions for mobile communications applications. Conexant and Alpha are on track to finalizing the transaction before the end of the second calendar quarter of this year.

About Conexant

Conexant Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications. Conexant leverages its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products through three separate businesses that address the wireless communications, broadband access and Internet infrastructure markets.

Conexant's wireless communications business is focused on providing power amplifiers, radio-frequency subsystems and complete systems solutions. The broadband access business develops and delivers integrated solutions that enable digital entertainment and information networks for the home and small office. Mindspeed Technologies, the company's Internet infrastructure business, designs, develops and sells a complete portfolio of semiconductor networking solutions that facilitate the aggregation, transmission and switching of data, video and voice from the edge of the Internet to linked metropolitan area networks and long-haul networks.

Conexant, headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., delivered revenues of $1.1 billion for fiscal 2001, and has approximately 6,900 employees worldwide. The company is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indices. To learn more, visit us at www.conexant.com or www.mindspeed.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements relating to future results of Conexant (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the successful planned disposition of certain assets; the successful separation of the company's broadband access and Internet infrastructure businesses; the successful merger of the company's wireless communications business with Alpha Industries, Inc.; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the security and safety risks of our employees and of company facilities and those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to Editors: Conexant and Mindspeed are trademarks of Conexant Systems, Inc. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.