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Atheros Enables Industry-Leading Wi-Fi in Next-Generation Cable Modem Gateways Based on TI Puma 5 Product Family

Posted on: Monday, 19 May 2008, 09:00 CDT

NEW ORLEANS, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- THE CABLE SHOW 2008 -- Atheros Communications, Inc. , a leading developer of advanced semiconductor system solutions for wireless and wired communications, announced that its high-performance XSPAN(R) 802.11n single and dual-band options, and its popular 802.11g solutions now support Texas Instruments' (TI) next-generation, wireless-enabled cable modem gateway platform. The new reference designs are the first in a series based on Atheros' Wi-Fi and TI's Puma 5 family of DOCSIS(R) 3.0 cable modem chipsets, which are optimized for triple play and next-generation IP services. The collaboration between Atheros and TI enables Multiple Service Operators (MSOs) or service providers to easily add Wi-Fi connectivity to cable modem gateways, eliminating the need for multiple boxes, and simplifying home and SOHO networks. MSOs can now choose among a wide array of Atheros high-performance Wi-Fi options to generate incremental revenue from subscribers enabled with wireless services.

Atheros WLAN together with TI's Puma 5 family offers a uniquely architected, state-of-the-art platform which meets the demanding performance and feature requirements of the cable modem gateway market. This complete solution provides OEMs with a full hardware development kit (HDK) and software development kit (SDK), enabling them to easily and quickly customize the fundamental design with value-added features and achieve significant time-to- market advantages. Additionally, the joint platform provides a single source to OEMs for design support on both cable modem and WLAN technologies.

Atheros' XSPAN system-on-chip solutions provide a rich set of features to the Puma 5 platform including an integrated, high-performance, wireless network processor (WNPU) 400 MHz subsystem, which gives significant offload capabilities to the cable modem's host CPU resulting in higher throughput. The XSPAN family features an innovative triple-radio MIMO design, which delivers industry-leading whole home coverage.

"Integrating Wi-Fi with DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems enabled by TI's Puma 5 family of products gives MSOs even more reach into the home network, allowing them to provide value-added features including remote configuration, assisted troubleshooting and more," said Ran Senderovitz, TI's cable business manager. "Building Atheros' WLAN technology on top of TI's Puma 5 packet processor- based DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem products gives our customers the flexibility to create differentiated gateway solutions to meet their market needs."

"Atheros' experience with service providers is unmatched in the carrier market. Our wireless LAN solutions are featured in broadband home gateways worldwide, as well the entire ecosystem of Wi-Fi products including leading PCs, retail networking equipment and mobile consumer devices," said Mike Stauffer, director of marketing, broadband carrier networking for Atheros. "This collaboration with TI, a leader in the cable modem chip market, provides customers with a comprehensive portfolio of single-source, wireless cable modem gateway solutions that will enable MSOs to compete more effectively and enhance revenues."

For MSOs who want to offer high-performance and cost-effective wireless connectivity, Atheros satisfies their needs with the industry's most- integrated 802.11n and 802.11g solutions. Atheros' XSPAN 11n AR9001AP and 802.11g AR5007AP designs feature the industry's highest integration of WLAN baseband/MAC, multiple radios, WNPU, and Ethernet to enable the most complete, cost-efficient wireless home gateways. The company's unmatched silicon integration and board design expertise result in mature solutions that substantially lower RBOM component count versus competitive designs.

Atheros solutions for wireless cable modem gateways provide MSOs with advanced carrier-class features to deliver an enhanced user experience and the ability to increase subscriber revenue and profitability. In addition, they support the Linux(R) operating system and comply with industry standards WMM(R) (Wi-Fi Multimedia(TM)) and Wi-Fi Protected Setup(TM) with Atheros' JumpStart for Wireless(TM), the company's simple network configuration software. All of Atheros' 802.11n and 802.11g solutions support the WPA(TM), WPA2(TM) and 802.11i standard and feature a hardware-based advanced encryption engine to ensure secure connectivity.

For more information about TI's Puma 5 family of DOCSIS 3.0 products, please visit: http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/landing/puma5

Availability

Atheros 802.11n-based modules, featuring the AR9001AP, supporting the TI PUMA 5, will be available from leading Asian ODMs in the second quarter of 2008.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is a leading developer of semiconductor system solutions for wireless and wired communications products. Atheros combines its wireless and networking systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost, standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer, networking equipment and consumer device manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.atheros.com/ or send email to info@atheros.com.

Atheros, the Atheros logo, XSPAN and JumpStart for Wireless are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.

NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the features, benefits and performance of Atheros' and TI's products and the joint reference designs of Atheros and TI, and the anticipated increase in the percentage of cable modems with integrated WLAN, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, difficulties in the development of new and enhanced products, general economic conditions, the effects of competition and technological change, and the risks detailed in Atheros' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 2007 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other reports filed with the SEC by Atheros from time to time. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Atheros disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Atheros Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Editorial, Dakota Lee of Atheros Communications,+1-408-720-5597, dakota@atheros.com, or Greg Wood of A&R Edelman,+1-650-762-2838, gwood@ar-edelman.com, for Atheros Communications, Inc.; orIR, Deborah Stapleton of Stapleton Communications, +1-650-470-0200,deb@stapleton.com, for Atheros Communications, Inc.

Web site: http://www.atheros.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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