Texas Instruments to focus on cable modem segment

BANGALORE: Texas Instruments (TI) will focus on a new VoIP cable modem

reference design based on its programmable digital signal processor (DSP)

platform. This reference design combines the hardware and software technologies

of TI's recent acquisitions, Telogy Networks Inc, provider of embedded

communications software to global equipment manufacturers and Libit Signal

Processing Ltd., a technology company providing silicon solutions for the cable

modem market.

DSP based broadband access technology will connect personal computers,

set-top boxes and IP phones to the Internet via cable lines and copper telephone

lines at speeds that are several orders of magnitude higher than what is

achievable today.

TI (India) director DSP product development Sham Banerji said,

"Voiceover packet switched networks coupled with cable modem technology

offers new challenges for our R&D team. We are now developing silicon and

software solutions for some of the fastest growing markets in the industry,

right here in Bangalore." "TI expects to combine the power of its

market leading programmable DSPs with the integrated silicon solutions and

Internet telephony software it is acquiring with the acquisition of Libit and

Telogy", he added.

The TI VoIP cable modem reference design, called LBT400DV, will enable cable

modem manufactures to add VoIP capabilities and to shorten development cycles.

All of the components necessary to build a VoIP enabled cable modem, including

the DOCSIS chipset/RF front end, RISC processor, memory, operating system and

voice application software has been integrated into the reference design,

shortening the development cycle time for cable modem manufacturers. On its

market position in this segment, Ofir Shalvi, TI fellow, Manager of Advanced

technologies, says "Currently Broadcom is leading this segment; we want to

become market leaders by the end of year 2000."

On its future plans in this segment, Mr. Banerji said, "TI has divested

in 14 segments and acquired 15 companies to lead in cable modem arena. In India

there are around 22 million cable connections connecting the homes, which is

very high and gives more market opportunity for us."