MIPS, Hughes ink deal to develop set-top boxes

MIPS, Hughes ink deal to develop set-top boxes
By Semiconductor Business News
January 29, 2001 (1:22 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20010129S0055

MOUNTAIN VEIW, Calif. -- MIPS Technologies Inc. and Hughes Network Systems today announced a three-year agreement to co-develop next-generation set-top boxes.

As part of the deal, Hughes announced that it has standardized all of its system design activities on MIPS' 32-bit RISC processors. In addition, MIPS will provide HNS with advanced simulation and design tools.

Hughes will integrate MIPS' MIPS32 4Kc microprocessor cores in its new line of DIRECTV set-top boxes. Hughes will introduce the products in the fall of 2001.

"By providing support to [Hughes], MIPS Technologies has enabled them to reduce their time to market," said John Bourgoin, chairman and chief executive of MIPS.

Hughes is among several companies competing in the exploding set-top box business. The digital set-top box market is projected to grow from 12.1 million in 2000 to 57.1 million in 2006, according Jon Peddie Associates.