PMC-Sierra Extends Performance to 15 MHz Bandwidth for Wireless Multi Carrier Base Stations.

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BURNABY, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001

PM7815 PALADIN(TM)-15 Enhanced Digital Power Amplifier Technology

Saves Wireless Carriers Several Megawatts of Power

PMC-Sierra (Nasdaq:PMCS) today announced an enhanced version of its PALADIN Digital Signal Processor (DSP) controlled power amplifier architecture for wireless infrastructure equipment. Designed to support previously unattainable 15 MHz applications, the PM7815 PALADIN(TM)-15 architecture eliminates transmitter distortions and improves spectral efficiency in wireless Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) at dramatically lower power and cost than existing implementations. Key features of the PALADIN-15 chip design are the ability to enable 15 MHz multi carrier WCDMA and cdma2000 applications without using costly, power-hungry, feed-forward radio frequency (RF) amplifiers (see figure 1).

"The PALADIN-15 represents a breakthrough in broadband wireless power amplifier linearization," said Laurie Wallace, director of strategic marketing, PMC-Sierra's Access Products Division. "Previously, when bandwidths of more than 5 MHz were required, wireless service providers typically used multiple feed-forward amplifiers that consumed large amounts of power, compromised reliability, and increased deployment and maintenance costs. The PALADIN-15 eliminates these bottlenecks and accelerates the deployment of new generations of wireless equipment."

PALADIN-15 Pumps Up Wireless Bandwidth

A single 2G or 3G power amplifier employing the PALADIN-15 meets or exceeds bandwidth requirements for more than 90 percent of the world's licensed wireless spectrum. The PALADIN-15 can be used in any second-generation (cdmaOne, GSM/EDGE) and third-generation (WCDMA, cdma2000, EDGE) power amplifier at any frequency. The chip operates at a high 93 MHz sampling rate and utilizes firmware that enables software reconfiguration of the BTS, while enhancing reliability and delivering unmatched power efficiency. The PALADIN-15 and the pin-compatible PM7800 PALADIN-10 DSP devices provide the only off-the-shelf chip solutions for digital Wireless BTS power amplifier linearization.

Overcoming Power and Analog Limitations

With the current regional demand for electrical power outstripping supply, power conservation within "always-on" wireless networks is fast becoming a global issue. PMC-Sierra's PALADIN-15 architecture represents a major advancement towards the reduction of overall power consumption within these networks. Once deployed in a typical 10,000 BTS wireless network, the PALADIN-15 architecture would save approximately 15 megawatts of power or about $20 million per year with power costing 15 cents per megawatt hour.

Analog power amplifiers are the most expensive component in wireless network base stations and the cost increases dramatically with power output and bandwidth requirements. They are complex, sensitive and require a lengthy calibration procedure prior to deployment. Routine field maintenance is also needed to ensure transmitter compliance with communications regulations and continued operation without performance degradation due to component ageing and environmental changes. Like the PALADIN-10 chip, the PALADIN-15 overcomes the need for expensive and time-consuming manual amplifier calibration by automatically adapting to, and compensating for each amplifier's unique distortion pattern. This eliminates the need for tuning and alignment during manufacturing and in the field requiring lower cost and higher power amplifier efficiency.

Pricing, Availability and Customer Support

The PALADIN-15 is a low-power 1.4-watt CMOS device packaged in 31mm by 31mm 304-pin SBGA package. The device is priced at $375 in 10K quantities, with samples currently available. A comprehensive support package including reference designs and applications notes will be available on PMC-Sierra's web site at http://www.pmc-sierra.com.

About PMC-Sierra

PMC-Sierra is accelerating the broadband revolution. PMC-Sierra's extensive family of broadband communication semiconductors enables the equipment that makes up the backbone of the Internet. PMC-Sierra offers worldwide technical and sales support including a network of offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. PMC-Sierra is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "PMCS". The company is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nasdaq-100 Index is the benchmark for the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (Amex:QQQ).

PMC-Sierra develops Internet Protocol (IP), ATM, SONET/SDH, T1/E1, T3/E3, Voice-over-Packet, wireless infrastructure, MIPS(TM) microprocessor, and Gigabit Ethernet solutions for wide area network (WAN), and Internet networking equipment. The company's quality system is registered with the Quality Management Institute to the ISO 9001 standard. As co-founder of the SATURN(R) Development Group, PMC-Sierra works with over 30 other member companies to define and develop interoperable, standard-compliant solutions for high speed networking applications. For more information about PMC-Sierra, visit http://www.pmc-sierra.com.

Attachments Figure 1: PALADIN-15 Provides Lower Cost and Higher Power Efficiency Photo Technical Glossary

Technical Glossary

2G          Second-Generation
3G          Third-Generation
ATM         Asynchronous Transfer Mode
BTS         Base Transceiver Station
CDMA        Code Division Multiple Access
CMOS        Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
CPU         Central Processing Unit
DCSP        Digital Correction Signal Processor
DSP         Digital Signal Processor
E1, E2, E3  European (world) standards for 2.048 Mbit/s, 8.448 Mbit/s,
            and 34.368 Mbit/s transmission, respectively
EDGE        Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution
GSM         Global System for Mobile Communications
IP          Internet Protocol
MHz         MegaHertz
MIPS(TM)    Million Instructions Per Second
PALADIN(TM) Power Amplifier Linearizer And Distortion Inhibitor
RF          Radio Frequency
SATURN(R)   Development Group PMC-Sierra works with over 30 member
            companies to define and develop interoperable, standard-
            compliant solutions for high speed networking applications
SBGA        Super Ball Grid Array
SDH         Synchronous Digital Hierarchy. Worldwide standard for
            synchronous transmission systems (typically fiber optic).
            Similar to SONET
SONET       Synchronous Optical Network. North American standard for
            synchronous transmissions systems (typically fiber optic).
            See also SDH
T1          North American standard for 1.544 Mbit/s transmission
T3          North American standard for a TDM digital channel carrier
            that operates at 44.736 Mbit/s. It can multiplex 28 DS-1
            signals and is synonymous with DS-3
WAN         Wide Area Network
WCDMA       Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

(c) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2001. All rights reserved. SATURN(R)is a registered trademark of PMC-Sierra, Inc. PALADIN(TM) and PMC-Sierra(TM)are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. MIPS(TM)is a trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc.

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