WaveIP Adopts Altera's Excalibur and HardCopy Solutions for Broadband Wireless Application

Israeli Company Turns to Altera Excalibur Devices to Achieve IEEE802.16 Performance with Migration Path to Lower Cost Solutions

San Jose, Calif., March 26, 2002 -- Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) said today that WaveIP, Inc., the Israeli-based developer of broadband cellular equipment, is adopting both the Excalibur^™ embedded processor and HardCopy^™ solutions for their GigAccess Broadband Wireless Access System. These solutions allow WaveIP to meet performance and cost requirements for deploying its point-to-multi-point network system.

"The presence of an embedded processor allows us to explore the full range of system partitioning options between tasks accomplished in software and programmable logic hardware, while providing pathways for future system enhancements," said Ami Ben-Hayun, WaveIP's hardware manager. "This flexible solution is essential to achieving the packet processing requirements necessary for each wireless deployment cell site to support video, voice and internet data communications."

The ARM^®-based family of Excalibur embedded processor solutions provides unique platforms for customers to meet complete hardware and software needs on a single device. After prototyping and pre-production validation with Excalibur devices, WaveIP plans to move into volume production by migrating to HardCopy devices rather than converting their design to an ASIC.

"WaveIP based its design on the emerging IEEE802.16 draft standard and therefore required a very flexible platform to enable changes to meet the standard," said Mark Dickinson, vice president of Altera's Excalibur Business Unit. "The combination of the Excalibur and HardCopy solutions provides a migration path for customers like WaveIP who need to meet industry specifications, move into production quickly, and migrate to lower cost solutions without the risks associated with ASIC redesigns."

About Altera's Excalibur Embedded Processor Solutions

Combining logic, memory, and a processor core, Altera's Excalibur embedded processor solutions allow engineers to integrate an entire system on a single PLD. The Nios^™ soft core and ARM^®-based hard core embedded processors offer the flexibility of processor cores with the integration of a system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solution.

Excalibur embedded processors can be used in any application requiring processors and programmable logic with up to 38,400 logic elements (1,000,000 gates). They are supported by the Quartus^® II design software and SOPC Builder. The Nios soft core is a flexible, scalable, 32-bit RISC processor that is supported in the Stratix^™, APEX^™, APEX II, Mercuryq, ARM^®-based Excalibur and ACEX^™ device families. The ARM-based Excalibur device family includes the low-cost EPXA1 device, which consists of 4,160 logic elements (LEs) in 484-pin and 672-pin FineLine BGA^™ packages. The mid-range EPXA4 device has 16,640 LEs in 672-pin and 1,020-pin FineLine BGA packages, while the high-end EPXA10 device consists of 38,400 LEs in a 1,020-pin FineLine BGA package. For more information on the Excalibur embedded processor solutions, go to: http://www.altera.com/products/devices/excalibur/exc-index.html

About HardCopy Devices

HardCopy devices provide a low-risk, cost-effective, time saving alternative to ASICs for high-volume production. Through a combination of proprietary silicon design and an automated conversion process, Altera helps customers move seamlessly from a programmable solution to a low-cost, custom implementation of their designs. Using competitively priced HardCopy devices, product development teams can enjoy the benefits of a shorter development time than is needed with ASICs, enter the market earlier, and expedite production. For more information about HardCopy devices, visit: http://www.altera.com/hardcopy.

About WaveIP Ltd.

WaveIP is focused on the development of broadband fixed/Nomadic cellular access network equipment for Internet, data, video and voice. Using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology that enables operation in non line-of-sight installations, WaveIP's proprietary networking solution is a perfect complementary match to mobile cellular deployment enabling cellular companies to broaden their services and increase revenues while taking advantage of their existing infrastructure. More information is available at http://www.waveip.com.

About Altera

Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) is the world's pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property, and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More information is available at www.altera.com.

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Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, Excalibur, specific device designations and all other words that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. All other product or service names are the property of their respective holders.

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Editor Contacts: 

Martin S. Won Altera Corporation (408) 544-6397 newsroom@altera.com

Yoram Zinger WaveIP Ltd. (954) 965-3557