Broadcom Debuts Chipset

IRVINE, Calif. -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM) has begun production of its newest voice over cable modem system-on-a-chip (SoC). Targeted at the rapidly growing voice over cable market, Broadcom's solution significantly improves system performance while reducing the delivery cost of broadband voice and data services via cable networks. The unprecedented performance, integration and flexibility achieved by Broadcom's new voice over cable modem chip establish a new industry benchmark for primary multi-line voice over cable modem solutions.

"Advancing voice over cable technology and deployment rates is one of the top initiatives of cable operators, as it presents a major revenue growth opportunity," said Steven Craddock, Comcast senior vice president of New Media Development. "The industry is looking for revolutionary products that set new levels of performance and reliability, have the flexibility and capacity to enable emerging applications in the voice over cable space, and that also allow operators to cost effectively deploy voice enabled modems ubiquitously."

Broadcom's new voice over cable modem chip, the BCM3368, incorporates the company's revolutionary new VoIP on Enhanced RISC (VIPER) processor architecture. As a result of its robust computing architecture, the new chip enables a wide range of sophisticated features and services that are either unachievable with today's cable modem solutions or require additional processing technologies that are costly to both develop and manufacture.

Leveraging the integration of technologies in the VIPER processor, primary multi-line voice solutions now can be implemented without the costly and complicated dual processor, dual memory architectures used in all prior voice over cable modems. Additionally, the VIPER architecture significantly simplifies the development of VoIP solutions, reduces the development costs of DSP programming and reduces time to market. This level of integration and performance reduces the component count on primary multi-line voice over cable modems by over 20%, and thus leads to more cost-effective solutions and overall improved reliability.

The unprecedented performance of the BCM3368 voice over cable modem SoC offers advanced capabilities for a variety of solutions including PacketCable, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) and emerging cellular convergence in voice over cable applications. The BCM3368 is the first voice over cable modem to incorporate ICSA Labs certified firewall technology, which prevents malicious hackers from potentially disrupting voice service. Additionally, the BCM3368 delivers full-speed wireless mobility and has the ability to scale with the increased performance demands of emerging wireless, cellular convergence and networking standards.

"With the introduction of the BCM3368, cable operators are now able to cost effectively deploy voice-ready cable modems to every broadband subscriber," said Daniel Marotta, senior vice president & general manager of Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group. "By combining our field-proven experience gained from prior generations of voice over cable silicon and the VIPER architecture, Broadcom will help drive the increased penetration of voice over cable services."

Broadcom Corp.