MediaTek announces strategic co-operation agreement with AST Wireless

HSINCHU, TAIWAN: In order to fully commit to the Chinese home-grown 3G communications standard TD-SCDMA and to specifically align with China Mobile on jointly expanding the TDD market, MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, announced a strategic co-operation with AST Wireless (AST), a recognized developer of TD-SCDMA modem chips. With the synergy of both companies, this business cooperation aims at taking MediaTek's 3G and B3G solutions to new high.

Continuous technological innovation in the TD-SCDMA industry is one of the major factors driving MediaTek to the overall leading position. MediaTek has previously unveiled the world's first commercial TD-SCDMA HSPA chipset, Laguna-U, at the 2009 PT/WIRELESS NETWORKS COMM CHINA conference.

The Laguna-U chipset is the successor of the industry's first HSDPA chipset (Laguna) which was commercially used at the Beijing Olympic Games and can support HSDPA downlink up to 2.8Mbps. The Laguna-U is now in mass production to support the large-scale commercialization of HSPA in 2010.

In addition, MediaTek's TD- SCDMA chipsets have been taking a leading position in all previous terminals bids and deeply-customized mobile phones offered by China Mobile.
Moreover, the long-standing, fruitful cooperation with LeadCore is another important factor in the success of MediaTek in the TD-SCDMA market.

JiChang Hsu, Executive VP of MediaTek stated: "Working with LeadCore to compete for several terminal procurements and stimulus programs offered by China Mobile has achieved excellent results. Over the past five years, the win-win co-operation between MediaTek and LeadCore has greatly contributed to the rapid growth of the TD-SCDMA market. The successful relationship with LeadCore and all cooperation projects will remain unchanged. MediaTek will maintain a close partnership with LeadCore to continue drive TD-SCDMA technologies toward extended international competitiveness."

With the rapid commercialization of the TD-SCDMA standard, the demand for various kinds of end-user terminal products increases. Through the strategic alliance with AST, MediaTek will deliver richer and more diversified products. Combined with its well-established wireless and multimedia technologies, MediaTek will make the TD-SCDMA industry stronger.