Entropic Communications Announces Channel Stacking Switch Design Win for Deployments in Italian Satellite Operator Market
SAN DIEGO, July 26, 2010 --- Entropic Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENTR), a leading provider of silicon and software solutions to enable connected home entertainment, today announced that its Channel Stacking Switch (CSS) technology has been selected by Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) to power its low-noise block (LNB) offering, the AK541-XT2, currently being deployed by a major Italian satellite service provider. Entropic’s CSS technology creates a single cable network which reduces installation complexity, allows for remote upgrades, supports the distribution of high definition (HD) quality content, and prepares operator systems for future expansion in their home networking strategies.
In traditional single-family home (SFH) digital broadcast satellite (DBS) installations, a unique cable needs to be run from the LNB to each tuner in the house. For example, a personal video recorder (PVR) set-top box (STB) which has two tuners, requires two cables to be run to the STB. To support two PVRs, four cables are required. The CSS single-cable technology from Entropic enables the DBS installation to use the existing cable structure of a single cable run with splitters to branch into the various rooms where the STBs are located. A PVR, or even two PVRs, using a CSS LNB only need one cable to feed them.
Entropic’s single cable implementation reduces overall system and upgrade costs versus traditional DBS installations for the service provider. The single cable architecture simplifies installation, improves aesthetics, and delivers a more reliable system that improves the customer experience—which ultimately results in less churn, and allows for future home networking solutions to be seamlessly implemented.
With the new four-channel LNB, a DBS operator can support multiple STBs and tuners off a single cable, including 2x PVR STBs, 4x single tuner STBs, or any combination of four total tuners. This capability, supported by CSS technology, helps the operator to lower their subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) by lowering equipment and installation costs, and increase annual revenue per user (ARPU), by offering advanced commercial services, such as video on demand (VOD) and whole home networking.
“MTI continues to be a leader in developing Entropic CSS single-cable solutions for the world’s leading European DBS operators,” said Eugene Wu, business head satellite and mobile division, MTI. “The relationship between MTI and Entropic spans several generations of products; the latest of which is ideally suited for European operator deployments.”
The LNB utilizes Entropic’s RF5219 CSS solution, which offers up to 40 percent lower power consumption over previous generations. The integrated circuit (IC) is designed to support up to six stacked channels on a single cable per STB. As many as 12 channels can be supported with the additional implementation of a power inserter. Other Entropic CSS IC solutions can provide up to 12 stacked channels.
“This latest design win demonstrates the value Entropic delivers to leading DBS operators around the world,” said Vinay Gokhale, senior vice president, Marketing and Business Development, Entropic. “Entropic has a very synergistic relationship with MTI and satellite service providers worldwide. We are excited that our products continue to enable major satellite service providers and their customers to take advantage of the benefits of CSS single cable installations.”
Availability
The MTI LNB, the AK541-XT2, is in production today and available to the Italian and European market through authorized distributors. The Entropic RF5219 family of CSS solutions are also in production and available for LNB and switch designs today.
About MTI
Established in 1983, Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) was Taiwan's first microwave and satellite Communications Company. For 25 years, MTI has pioneered the wireless communications industry in Taiwan and continuously cultivated the development of microwave integrated circuits, focusing on the design, manufacturing and sales of niche and promising products within the microwave electronics market. MTI's work and contribution have been essential in solidifying Taiwan's position in the global high-tech arena. For more information, please visit www.mti.com.tw.
About Entropic Communications
Entropic Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENTR) is a leading fabless semiconductor company that is engineering the future of connected home networking and entertainment by providing next-generation silicon and software technologies to the world’s leading cable, telco and satellite service providers, OEMs and consumer electronics manufacturers. As a co-founder of MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance), Entropic pioneered and continues to evolve the way high-definition television-quality video and other multimedia and digital content such as movies, music, games and photos are brought into and delivered throughout the home. For more information, visit Entropic at Entropic » Home.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the ability of Entropic’s CSS and single-cable solutions to prepare operator systems for future expansion in their home networking strategies, reduce overall system and upgrade costs and lower subscriber acquisition cost. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Entropic's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects of competition; Entropic's dependence on a limited number of service providers and customers; Entropic's ability to successfully collaborate and the ability of each of them to introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; the risk that the market for high-definition television-quality video and multimedia content delivery solutions, including the use of satellite distribution, may not develop as anticipated; the effect of intellectual property rights claims; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Entropic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2010. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Entropic is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Entropic Communications
Investor Contact:
Debra Hart
Director, Investor Relations
Source: Entropic Press Release
Low-noise block solution to cost-effectively deliver a single-cable network for multiple set-top boxes and tuners
SAN DIEGO, July 26, 2010 --- Entropic Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENTR), a leading provider of silicon and software solutions to enable connected home entertainment, today announced that its Channel Stacking Switch (CSS) technology has been selected by Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) to power its low-noise block (LNB) offering, the AK541-XT2, currently being deployed by a major Italian satellite service provider. Entropic’s CSS technology creates a single cable network which reduces installation complexity, allows for remote upgrades, supports the distribution of high definition (HD) quality content, and prepares operator systems for future expansion in their home networking strategies.
In traditional single-family home (SFH) digital broadcast satellite (DBS) installations, a unique cable needs to be run from the LNB to each tuner in the house. For example, a personal video recorder (PVR) set-top box (STB) which has two tuners, requires two cables to be run to the STB. To support two PVRs, four cables are required. The CSS single-cable technology from Entropic enables the DBS installation to use the existing cable structure of a single cable run with splitters to branch into the various rooms where the STBs are located. A PVR, or even two PVRs, using a CSS LNB only need one cable to feed them.
Entropic’s single cable implementation reduces overall system and upgrade costs versus traditional DBS installations for the service provider. The single cable architecture simplifies installation, improves aesthetics, and delivers a more reliable system that improves the customer experience—which ultimately results in less churn, and allows for future home networking solutions to be seamlessly implemented.
With the new four-channel LNB, a DBS operator can support multiple STBs and tuners off a single cable, including 2x PVR STBs, 4x single tuner STBs, or any combination of four total tuners. This capability, supported by CSS technology, helps the operator to lower their subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) by lowering equipment and installation costs, and increase annual revenue per user (ARPU), by offering advanced commercial services, such as video on demand (VOD) and whole home networking.
“MTI continues to be a leader in developing Entropic CSS single-cable solutions for the world’s leading European DBS operators,” said Eugene Wu, business head satellite and mobile division, MTI. “The relationship between MTI and Entropic spans several generations of products; the latest of which is ideally suited for European operator deployments.”
The LNB utilizes Entropic’s RF5219 CSS solution, which offers up to 40 percent lower power consumption over previous generations. The integrated circuit (IC) is designed to support up to six stacked channels on a single cable per STB. As many as 12 channels can be supported with the additional implementation of a power inserter. Other Entropic CSS IC solutions can provide up to 12 stacked channels.
“This latest design win demonstrates the value Entropic delivers to leading DBS operators around the world,” said Vinay Gokhale, senior vice president, Marketing and Business Development, Entropic. “Entropic has a very synergistic relationship with MTI and satellite service providers worldwide. We are excited that our products continue to enable major satellite service providers and their customers to take advantage of the benefits of CSS single cable installations.”
Availability
The MTI LNB, the AK541-XT2, is in production today and available to the Italian and European market through authorized distributors. The Entropic RF5219 family of CSS solutions are also in production and available for LNB and switch designs today.
About MTI
Established in 1983, Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) was Taiwan's first microwave and satellite Communications Company. For 25 years, MTI has pioneered the wireless communications industry in Taiwan and continuously cultivated the development of microwave integrated circuits, focusing on the design, manufacturing and sales of niche and promising products within the microwave electronics market. MTI's work and contribution have been essential in solidifying Taiwan's position in the global high-tech arena. For more information, please visit www.mti.com.tw.
About Entropic Communications
Entropic Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENTR) is a leading fabless semiconductor company that is engineering the future of connected home networking and entertainment by providing next-generation silicon and software technologies to the world’s leading cable, telco and satellite service providers, OEMs and consumer electronics manufacturers. As a co-founder of MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance), Entropic pioneered and continues to evolve the way high-definition television-quality video and other multimedia and digital content such as movies, music, games and photos are brought into and delivered throughout the home. For more information, visit Entropic at Entropic » Home.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the ability of Entropic’s CSS and single-cable solutions to prepare operator systems for future expansion in their home networking strategies, reduce overall system and upgrade costs and lower subscriber acquisition cost. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Entropic's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects of competition; Entropic's dependence on a limited number of service providers and customers; Entropic's ability to successfully collaborate and the ability of each of them to introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; the risk that the market for high-definition television-quality video and multimedia content delivery solutions, including the use of satellite distribution, may not develop as anticipated; the effect of intellectual property rights claims; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Entropic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2010. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Entropic is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Entropic Communications
Investor Contact:
Debra Hart
Director, Investor Relations
Source: Entropic Press Release
