Broadband: General Instrument Interactive Digital Platform Now Deployed By More Than 100 Broadband Network Operators. Comcast Cable Communications Becomes the Recipient of GI's Four-Millionth Digital Set-Top Terminal - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, June 21, 1999

General Instrument Corporation announced Monday a key milestone for the company and the cable industry with the launch of its interactive digital cable platform to more than 100 broadband network operators. Proving the success of its interactive digital platform, GI announces that the following milestones have been reached:

* more than 100 MSOs have now deployed GI's interactive digital platform

* over 4 million interactive digital set-top terminals have been shipped to these MSOs by GI

* over 800 interactive digital cable systems have been deployed

* more than 37 million households are passed by these 800 systems

GI also reported that it has shipped over four million interactive digital set-tops. GI achieved this milestone when it shipped its four-millionth digital terminal to Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. recently.

"We are pleased to be the recipient of GI's four-millionth digital set- top," said Brad Dusto, Senior Vice President, Engineering Operations at Comcast. "This milestone exemplifies GI's leadership role in the broadband industry and in producing innovative digital platforms like the DCT-2000 and the advanced interactive DCT-5000 that our customers are demanding."

Further solidifying its lead, GI has already fielded interactive services over its commercially available platform including video-on-demand (VOD), e-mail, Internet access, and e-commerce. This, coupled with the broadly deployed base, gives operators the security of having the most field-proven interactive platform in the world.

"General Instrument is thrilled about the confidence that our customers have placed in us by having so many operators deploy our platform. There is no question that by successfully fielding a cost-effective, interactive digital platform and successfully integrating advanced services like VOD, Internet access, and e-mail -- we have given customers the confidence to launch with GI, "said Denton Kanouff Vice President of GI's Digital Network Systems business unit. "We've worked hard to establish GI as the world leader in interactive digital systems and will continue to work hard to reinforce this earned customer confidence."

GI's DCT-2000 interactive digital set-top uses state-of-the-art digital compression technology to provide a wealth of new revenue generating services to the cable industry. Its 64 and 256 QAM, digital processing technology vastly increases channel capacity over existing cable plants, while providing significantly improved audio and video quality. All DCT-2000s are configured to support real-time reverse path communications, providing a gateway to interactive services such as VOD, Internet access, e-mail, home shopping, and more.

GI's DCT-5000 advanced interactive set-top provides new levels of broadband networking services without sacrificing traditional analog and digital video services. Through a 347 MIPS processor, 32-bit 3-D graphics, integrated DOCSIS-based cable modem, large memory cache, and optional hard drive, the DCT-5000 delivers PC-like functionality to the home video environment -- enabling operators to offer additional revenue-generating services that require dedicated upstream bandwidth. All of this is integrated with GI's unique Triple TunerO architecture, which allows consumers to simultaneously watch video, surf the Internet, and hold an IP telephony call using GI's interactive digital cable network. Its rich application environment provides unparalleled flexibility in selecting an operating system for deployment in an interactive network.

Supporting all of this is GI's open, advanced interactive digital system. The system allows maximum flexibility to broadband network operators to deliver content from any source and simultaneously deliver real-time interactive services. All achievable because GI has built its interactive digital systems around open standards and interfaces and is fully OpenCable- compliant. This assures broadband network operators have full control to deliver and bill for interactive services. This open architecture, coupled with OpenCable compliance and the power of the set-tops being deployed, allows feature-rich software suites to be integrated and deployed. Software suppliers integrating with GI's platform include Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Liberate Technologies, Sony, and other leading software companies.

General Instrument is a leading worldwide provider of integrated and interactive broadband access solutions, teaming with its business partners to lead the convergence of the Internet, telecommunications, and video entertainment industries. FMI: www.gi.com.