NxtWave Communications Conquers Cable Compatibility; Breakthrough Products Deliver Tomorrow's Digital Needs Today.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

NAB 2002

LANGHORNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2002

Advanced Single Chip Design First to Deliver Terrestrial and Cable

Digital Signals

A trio of high-performance integrated circuits from NxtWave Communications are the first to combine digital terrestrial reception and cable compatibility on a single chip.

The solution overcomes cable compatibility questions and provides cost-efficient alternatives for manufacturers, cable system operators and ultimately, the consumer receiving digital programming.

The products, which deliver quality digital signals whether the user is a cable subscriber or receives signal over the air, are significant in light of the anticipated demands for cable and terrestrial digital reception in the next 18-24 months.

OpenCable(TM) requirements, combined with "must-carry" legislation for digital television transmissions, make the need for dependable, digital reception for either cable or terrestrial receivers more important than ever. The new NxtWave NXT2005 product line solves this highly anticipated demand for product.

"For all consumers to be able to truly enjoy the full benefits of digital and high-definition television, it is critical that they are able to receive DTV and HD broadcasts across a variety of transmission platforms," said Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro.

"Indeed, even as the cable and home satellite markets continue to grow -- and as we await the full promise of pre-recorded and Internet transmission of HD content -- millions of households will continue to receive the wonders of HD via over-the-air transmissions."

The integrated design of the NXT2005 family (NXT2003, NXT2004, NXT2005) combines, for the first time, both advanced VSB technology and QAM with the option for Out of Band (OOB) capabilities. The result is a high-performance, lower-cost, more efficient product designed to operate on reduced power and eliminate the need for multiple components.

Earlier NxtWave products pioneered the advanced equalizer technology for terrestrial reception. The new chips are built on that foundation and provide the additional key element of cable compatibility which broadcasters and cable operators alike are seeking.

NxtWave's NXT2005 family of digital cable transceivers and terrestrial receivers are part of the company's progressive approach to digital reception. Building on the company's industry-leading VSB performance, all of the components incorporate NxtWave's new Nxtenna technology for controlling "smart antennas" that comply with the EIA/CEA-909 standard.

For cable, the NXT2005 family provides a scalable approach to solve the issue of compatibility.

In addition to terrestrial reception, the NXT2004 includes QAM and de-interleaver memory for un-encrypted QAM signal formats. The NXT2003 builds on the NXT2004 to add an OOB receiver for uni-directional cable applications to enable the decryption of scrambled signals. The NXT2005 adds a return path modulator to the NXT2003 functions for interactivity.

For additional information regarding the NXT2005 family, contact the sales department of NxtWave Communications, 6 Venture, Suite 350, Irvine, Calif. 92618. Phone: [phone], fax: [phone]. Samples of the products will be on display, by appointment, at the NxtWave hospitality suite in Las Vegas during NAB 2002.

About NxtWave Communications Inc.

NxtWave Communications offers the highest-performing integrated circuit solutions satisfying the requirements of manufacturers of digital set-top boxes, digital TVs, PC TVs and other broadband appliances through the company's efficient and robust modulation and demodulation techniques.

NxtWave's products provide error-free digital reception, even with severe signal impairments commonly present in cable and terrestrial broadcast systems. The company's exclusive technology gives manufacturing customers and consumers significant cost and performance advantages.

NxtWave Communications is a privately held digital broadband communications company, with headquarters at One Summit Square, Rt. 413 & Doublewoods Road, Langhorne, Pa., 19047, with worldwide sales headquarters at 6 Venture, Suite 350, Irvine, Calif., 92618. For additional information visit www.nxtwavecomm.com.