Broadcom Introduces First GPS-enabled Device for Satellite Outdoor Units

Broadcom Introduces First GPS-enabled Device for Satellite Outdoor Units – New Integration Features Enable Satellite TV Operators to Accurately Track Equipment and Geo-lock Content

News Highlights:

• First satellite solution to combine GPS technology in subscribers’ satellite outdoor unit (ODU)
• Provides most accurate service installation, subscriber equipment tracking and content geo-locking
• Creates path to location-based business applications, content and social media

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry’s first GPS-enabled satellite outdoor unit (ODU) device.  The solution combines Broadcom’s BCM4551 satellite TV device with its BCM4771 GPS receiver, enabling operators to better track the location of subscriber equipment and pinpoint subscriber’s service issues in the home. Broadcom will demonstrate the new solution at the International CES show, January 6-9, 2015. Visit www.broadcom.com to learn more.

Broadcom’s new satellite solution resides in the low-noise block (LNB) of a subscribers’ satellite dish, enabling operators to better position dish installations and reduce metering equipment costs and truck rolls. Combining GPS-enabled ODU technology with a set-top box (STB), operators can quickly locate and validate a subscriber’s home location.

“By combining Broadcom’s field-proven satellite ODU technology with GPS functionality, we are able to provide operators with the capability to more conveniently and cost-effectively track the location of their equipment and prevent redistribution of content to nonsubscribers,” said Nicholas Dunn, Broadcom Vice President of Direct Broadcast Satellite Marketing. “This integrated technology can also open the door to operator delivery of location-based social media and business applications, providing subscribers with targeted content such as information on local service providers, retail operations and restaurants, or a specific televised event.”

GPS technology within the LNB also allows operators to geo-lock content to subscribers. Content geo-locking uses a subscriber’s location to deliver video content specific to the subscriber’s service address. This ensures the delivery of personalized services and prevents costly theft of service for operators. Previously, content geo-locking was only available through a costly external device attached to subscriber’s set-top box; today’s introduction from Broadcom offers best-in-class capabilities at an incremental cost for operators.

Key Features of the BCM4551

• Highly-integrated 28 nanometer (nm) process with low  power consumption
• Allows 24 DVB-S2 channels to be stacked on a single coaxial cable to service any STB to reduce satellite operator installation costs
• 8 RF inputs and 1RF output covering the 250 to 2350 MHz frequency range
• 24 user-band output channels
• 24 output channels selectable from any LNB input
• Frequency shift keying (FSK) and digital satellite equipment control (DiSEqC)

Key Features of the BCM4771

• Highly integrated radio frequency (RF), baseband processor and CPU with smallest complete PCB footprint
• Faster signal searches, accurate real-time navigation and improved tracking sensitivity
• Increased satellite availability: supports GPS, and GLONASS satellites at L1 frequency band

Availability
The BCM4551 and BCM4771 are in volume production.

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About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry’s broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by Connecting everything®. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.