MaxLinear MxL683 Selected by STMicroelectronics for Low-Cost ISDB-T Set-Top Box Reference Design for Latin America
STMicroelectronics’ STiH207 reference design includes MaxLinear’s MxL683 single-chip ISDB-T receiver on-board; provides a cost-optimized, future-proof solution for free-to-air retail and government-subsidized STBs
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, today announced that its MxL683 has been selected by STMicroelectronics for the STiH207 reference design, a small form factor, cost-optimized set-top box (STB) design for Latin America.
The design collaboration between MaxLinear and STMicroelectronics is aimed at facilitating the successful switch off of analog television services in the region, thereby allowing regional governments to auction the RF spectrum for 4G-LTE mobile high-speed broadband services.
The STiH207 reference design is an integrated set-top box hardware and software solution in a very small form factor. The platform enables manufacturers to bring low-cost digital set-top boxes to market very quickly, and also provides a scalable platform to add advanced features. The high-performance chipset architecture and powerful CPU can enable hybrid broadcast plus broadband (over-the-top) video services or advanced middleware applications (such as Ginga® for the Latin American market) with the same, common platform.
In Brazil, the national telecommunications agency (ANATEL) recently passed legislation to accelerate the adoption of digital television and release the 700MHz RF spectrum for mobile broadband services. The availability of low-cost converter boxes is essential to meet this objective and enable the government to subsidize a large number of boxes for low-income families that cannot afford them. The digital converter boxes are necessary to ensure that homes will continue to receive free television services after the planned analog blackout, which begins in 2015.
“Governments throughout Latin America are following Brazil’s lead and launching programs to free up the ultra-high frequency UHF spectrum for LTE,” said Brian Sprague, Vice President and General Manager, Broadband and Consumer Products at MaxLinear. “These governments can generate a tremendous amount of money by auctioning off this valuable spectrum to the private sector, and the set-top box solutions we are developing with ST are helping to make this happen.”
“Collaboration with MaxLinear enables us to deliver a best-in-class STB system solution to our customers,” said Hervé Mathieu, Head of Box and Gateway Business Lines at STMicroelectronics. “MaxLinear’s market-leading ISDB-T tuner-demodulator technology is a perfect complement to the STiH207 HD STB platform and provides field-proven RF performance at a very affordable price point.”
The analog switch off, which will occur in most Latin America countries between 2016 and 2018, is expected to drive substantial demand for new digital TVs and set-top boxes in the retail market. NexTV LATAM Consulting, in its DTT in Latin America 2010-2015 report, has estimated that free-to-air TV will remain the most popular choice for TV reception in Latin America and will be used in more than 100 million households in 2017.
Technical Highlights
The MxL683 is a highly integrated, single-chip ISDB-T compliant receiver with best-in-class RF tuner and demodulator performance. The MxL683 offers the highest level of integration and the lowest power consumption of any ISDB-T solution in the market. Unlike other competitive devices, MxL683 has been extensively field tested and optimized to ensure robust over-the-air TV reception in the difficult terrestrial reception environments commonly found throughout Brazil and other Latin American countries.
The STiH207 uses the latest process technology to provide a cost-effective, feature-rich, highly integrated SoC for set-top boxes (STBs). It is targeted at the advanced decoding STB market across all networks (cable/satellite/DTT/x-DSL/IP) worldwide and is suitable for both operator markets (with advanced security) and retail markets. The STiH207 broadens market access to HD zappers, personal video recorders (PVR), Internet protocol (IP) clients and dual-HD boxes supporting connected-TV services such as Internet protocol television (IPTV), information channels and over-the-top (OTT) video, gaming, catch-up TV and social networking.
About MaxLinear Inc.
MaxLinear Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. MaxLinear is located in Carlsbad, California, and its address on the Internet is 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 federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to our design collaboration with STMicroelectronics, deployments of the MxL683 for set-top boxes in the Latin America retail television market, and anticipated growth opportunities for MaxLinear in Latin America. 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 the reference design collaboration with STMicroelectronics or opportunities in Latin America for the MxL683 will result in future revenues. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including (among others) 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, including end markets in Latin America; our lack of long-term supply contracts and dependence on limited sources of supply; potential decreases in average selling prices for our products; and on-going intellectual property litigation related to hybrid television tuner products. 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 (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. 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
805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
or
MaxLinear
Inc. Corporate Contact:
Yves Rasse
Senior Director,
Consumer Product Line
760-692-0711
yrasse@maxlinear.com
Source: MaxLinear Inc.
Released May 29, 2013