ASIA Taiwan : Broadcom Corporation announced that it has been ranked as one of the world's top five merchant 3G (third generation) baseband suppliers, according to market research firm iSuppli Corporation.

New 3G phone handsets are expected to deliver sophisticated graphics, multimedia and other capabilities to consumers. The video and data processing requirements introduced by this shift have opened opportunities for suppliers like Broadcom to gain traction with merchant solutions.

By leveraging its broad IP portfolio and unique mixed signal communications expertise, Broadcom has demonstrated success in the cellular market and has now entered the elite group of 3G technology suppliers.

As cellular operators around the world continue to upgrade their networks to provide the benefits of high-speed 3G wireless phone service to their customers, the technical complexity and sophistication of baseband processors have increased to take advantage of the added bandwidth afforded by these networks. 3G cellular processors demand greater processing power, more efficient architectures, more sophisticated software, lower power consumption and integration of analog, digital and RF circuits on increasingly compact solutions. These technical requirements are placing new pressure on incumbent chip makers and providing market opportunities for new suppliers that can demonstrate technology leadership by delivering superior solutions.

"In a few short years, Broadcom has entered the highly competitive cellular baseband market and has now established a solid foundation for itself as a top 3G supplier," said Yossi Cohen, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom's Mobile Platforms Group. "Our market success has been a direct result of our focus on first achieving a strong technology leadership in the cellular industry with superior features, delivered in the most advanced process technologies -- a strategy that has consistently driven Broadcom to success."

The ramp of 3G services marks a significant transformation in cellular technology requirements, moving away from voice-centric handsets to advanced devices that incorporate sophisticated, high performance cellular modem architectures, complex data and multimedia processing, and additional connectivity options such as Bluetooth(R) and Wi-Fi(R). As a recognized leader in multiple wireless technologies combined with its strong video processing product portfolio, Broadcom has been able to provide a roadmap for advanced functionality that traditional voice-centered providers can not easily match.

"The complexity of cellular baseband chips continues to increase dramatically, especially as 3G handsets are called upon to deliver new levels of multimedia and data processing," said Francis Sideco, Senior Analyst of Wireless Communications for iSuppli. "Companies like Broadcom that can apply diverse communications and media processing capabilities to their baseband products increase their potential to benefit from the on-going transition to next generation handsets."

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art, system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2006 revenue of $3.67 billion, and holds over 2,000 U.S. and 800 foreign patents, more than 6,000 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video and data.