MaxLinear and WNC Deliver Industry-Leading Digital Satellite Channel Stacking LNB to Sky Italia

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  • WNC’s digital channel stacking LNB based on MaxLinear’s MxL803 Ku-band down-converter IC and MxL862 channel-stacking SoC enables Sky Italia’s transition from analog to digital channel stacking

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MaxLinear Inc. (NYSE:MXL), a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, and Wistron NeWeb Corp. (WNC), an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of advanced wireless communication products, today announced that Sky Italia will begin deployment of a new digital channel stacking low noise block (LNB) downconverter based on the industry-leading MxL803 Ku-band satellite down-conversion RF IC and MxL862 channel-stacking system on chip (SoC).

MaxLinear, WNC and Sky Italia have been collaborating on the joint development of this LNB over the last couple of years. Sky Italia’s stamp of approval and launch of this LNB highlights a key milestone for the companies and opens the door for a market-wide adoption of digital channel stacking technology by other operators.

The new LNB leverages MaxLinear’s turnkey protocol software, which gives Sky Italia the ability to dynamically allocate channels using the EN50494 and EN50607 standard DiSEqC control protocols. As Sky Italia upgrades or expands its transponder capacity, the LNB can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new channel line-ups.

The concurrent operation of multiple DiSEqC protocols provides complete flexibility to Sky Italia for seamlessly deploying advanced multi-channel set-top boxes and media servers while ensuring coexistence with legacy receivers connected to the same coax cable.

“Consumer demands are changing rapidly as there is an increased desire for more flexibility to watch individualized content on any device at any time. Sky Italia wants to be the first choice consumers turn to for these flexible services,” said Giuseppe Ioculano, Head of Installation Technology Development at Sky Italia. “This new LNB provides the ultimate in flexibility to allow us to meet the goals of managing legacy set-top boxes and introducing exciting new functionalities, whilst at the same time supporting our need for single-cable technology.”

“This LNB uses the latest technology to provide a more cost-effective solution that enables Sky Italia to reduce installation costs and meet the needs of consumers,” said TJ Chen, head of the DBS Business Unit from WNC. “This project has been in development for some time, and its deployment in the Sky Italia network will show the industry just how impactful digital channel stacking technology can be.”

“Partnering with WNC and Sky Italia has been an opportunity for MaxLinear to lead an industry- changing shift in technology to digital channel stacking,” said Yves Rasse, Senior Director, Consumer Product Line for MaxLinear. “The turnkey solution based on MxL803 and MxL862 is a great choice because it combines two of our most impactful satellite technologies – Ku-band down-conversion and Full-Spectrum Capture™ – to provide the configurable digital LNB platform required for next-generation satellite systems.”

MxL803 and MxL862 Technical Details

The MxL803 RF IC is the industry’s first monolithic Ku-band down-converter implemented in digital CMOS. The single-chip solution helps eliminate dozens of discrete components, including the image reject filter, thus improving system reliability and eliminating the need for performance tuning in production.

The digital phase-lock loop (PLL)-based implementation allows operators to achieve channel drift performance of +/- 0.5MHz, compared to +/- 2MHz for a traditional dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO)-based implementation, resulting in higher usable bandwidth per channel without incurring additional costs.

The MxL862 is a field-proven, market-leading, digital channel-stacking SoC optimized for single-feed satellite platforms. Based on MaxLinear’s ultra-low power Full-Spectrum Capture technology, the MxL862 integrates a bank of programmable channel select filters enabling a stacked output of more than 32 channels. The device can also be configured in universal L-band switch mode for backward compatibility with legacy STBs and with dish alignment measurement equipment typically used by installers.

About Wistron NeWeb Corp.

Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC) is an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of advanced communication products. With strong R&D and high-volume production capabilities, WNC consistently introduces innovative technologies covering a range of products including: DBS outdoor units, satellite/digital radio, networking devices (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac), 4G mobile devices, set-top boxes, digital home devices, automotive electronics, M2M products, RFID and NFC solutions, and various types of mobile-device/cellular-phone/LDS antennas. WNC's mission is to provide its worldwide customers and partners with superior products through premium ODM/JDM design, manufacturing, logistics, and after-sales services. For more information, please visit: www.wnc.com.tw.

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. is a provider of integrated, radio frequency, and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications and data center, metro, and long-haul transport network applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.maxlinear.com.

MxL, Full-Spectrum Capture, FSC and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, including statements relating to the announcement of a new digital channel-stacking LNB downconverter based on the MxL803 Ku-band satellite down-conversion RF IC and the MxL862 channel-stacking SoC. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot predict whether or to what extent we will realize revenues from the new LNB announced today. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including (among others) integration risks arising from our recent acquisition of Entropic Communications, Inc.; intense competition in our industry; the ability of our customers to cancel or reduce orders; uncertainties concerning how end user markets for our products will develop; our lack of long-term supply contracts and dependence on limited sources of supply; potential decreases in average selling prices for our products; currently pending intellectual property litigation; and the potential for additional intellectual property litigation, which is prevalent in our industry. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear 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.

MaxLinear Inc. Press Contact:
The David James Agency LLC
David Rodewald, +1 805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
or
MaxLinear Inc. Corporate Contact:
Yves Rasse, +1 760-692-0711
Senior Director, Consumer Product Line
yrasse@maxlinear.com

Source: MaxLinear Inc.

Released September 14, 2015