StarTimes to Deploy Entropic's Advanced Analog Channel Stacking Switch in Africa

Entropic's EN5288 Single-Cable Solution Reduces Installation Time and Cost vs. Multiple-Cable Implementations


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entropic (Nasdaq:ENTR), a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home, announced today that StarTimes, a worldwide technology company, pioneer and key player in the Pay-TV business will use Entropic's EN5288 Channel Stacking Switch (CSS™) Outdoor Unit (ODU) solution for their direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service deployments in Africa. By using Entropic's EN5288 for Low Noise Block (LNB) converters and Multi-switch solutions for multi-dwelling units (MDUs), StarTimes can enable DBS operators to reduce satellite installation costs associated with deploying high-end digital video recorder (DVR) set-top devices.

In March 2014, StarTimes added single-cable support in their set-top boxes (STBs) and today they unveil single-cable LNB and Multi-switch support for DVRs with more than three DVB-S tuners built-in. By using Entropic's EN5288 CSS ODU solution, StarTimes' has created an end-to-end single-cable run satellite solution from their LNB and Multi-switch products to their set-top devices. This architecture can significantly reduce operators' cost and cabling complexity by sending multiple video streams from multiple satellites into and around the home – over the single-cable feed. This simplified cabling approach allows the operator to deploy three-tuner DVRs in multiple rooms, without adding additional cabling by using the existing single-cable run from the LNB or Multi-switch. Additionally, Entropic's CSS technology simplifies DVR and STB upgrades with plug and play installation and allows all levels of installers, from professionals to consumers, to reuse existing cabling to quickly set up an in-home satellite system.

"Unlike traditional satellite installations, which require a unique cable for each tuner from the satellite dish to the set-top box, Entropic's CSS technology enables the delivery of multiple video streams from individual or multiple satellites into the home over a single-cable," said Mr. Jianqiang Wang, project manager, StarTimes. "This single-cable architecture enabled by Entropic's EN5288 solution provides for a fast, cost-effective installation that virtually eliminates retrofitting and the need to rewire rooms – as compared to multiple-cable installations."

"The DBS market in Africa is beginning to mature with Pay-TV viewers now interested in DVR services and more high definition channels," said Al Servati, vice president, Marketing, Entropic. "In working with StarTimes, we are enabling operators in Africa to more efficiently and affordably deliver advanced TV services to multi-tuner DVRs throughout the home, while also preparing operators for future home networking demands by consumers."

Entropic's EN5288 is the Company's third-generation analog CSS silicon solution. It offers the lowest bill of material component count, smallest package size and is Entropic's most power-efficient analog CSS product to date. The EN5288 is a 2 input, 2 user channel output CSS solution for DBS television applications and works across an input frequency range of 950-2150 MHz.

For more information about Entropic's DBS ODU solutions, please visit our solutions link.

About StarTimes

StarTimes is a worldwide technology company that was established in 1988 in China. StarTimes is the pioneer and key player in the pay-tv business in China where we have acquired over ten (10) million subscribers.

Relying on her well-recognized outstanding performance and promising development prospect, StarTimes position herself as the most influential broadcasting enterprise in China, having being listed among China's top 100 technology and science innovation- oriented enterprise, Forbes top 20 China's most potential enterprise and the only authorized private enterprise by the Ministry of Commerce in China to undertake foreign projects in the radio and TV industry.

As the most influential systems integrator, technology provider and network operator in China, StarTimes started developing its African markets in 2002, and was issued the first digital TV operator license by Rwanda in 2007. Currently StarTimes has registered companies in 23 African nations, started operation in 12 countries, with over 4 million subscribers developed. Till now, the operations network covers African, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Republic of central Africa, guinea and Kenya. Through setting up a multi-frequency, multichannel wireless terrestrial digital transmission platform, StarTimes is capable of providing for the local people not only digital TV service, mobile multimedia service and various kinds of digital TV terminal products, but also digital signal transmission service for national and commercial broadcasting and television institution, and thus to realize the vision of advanced terrestrial digital television technology that enables every African family to afford digital TV set, to watch digital TV, to enjoy TV as well as share the beauty brought by digital television.

StarTimes has established wireless digital TV platform in many African countries and will invest in mobile TV service platform and Internet business platform in the near future. It not only brings the most advanced technology into Africa, but also radically changes the backward condition in its broadcasting and information sector, and helps it step into the wireless digital age.

About Entropic

Entropic™ (Nasdaq:ENTR) is a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home. The Company transforms how traditional HDTV broadcast and IP-based streaming video content is seamlessly, reliably, and securely delivered, processed, and distributed into and throughout the home. Entropic's next-generation Set-top Box (STB) System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and Connectivity solutions enable Pay-TV operators to offer consumers more captivating whole-home entertainment experiences by transforming the way digital entertainment is delivered, connected and consumed – in the home and on the go. For more information, please visit Entropic at: www.entropic.com, read our blog Entropic Topics, or get social with us at @Entropic_News, or on Facebook, Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn.

The Entropic logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4255

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Entropic's analog CSS technologies, their related prospects and their role in the future of connected home entertainment. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Entropic's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, competition, risks associated with Entropic dependence on a limited number of customers and suppliers, technology risks, the risk that the market for HD video and multimedia content delivery solutions may not develop as Entropic anticipates and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Entropic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Entropic is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copyright© 2014 Entropic. All rights reserved. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.



            

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