Broadcom Powers First Ultra HD Android TV Set-top Box
IRVINE, Calif., Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced it is powering the first Ultra High Definition (Ultra HD) Android TV set-top box (STB). Offered by Free, a leading French broadband and IPTV service provider, and powered by Broadcom’s BCM7252 STB system-on-chip (SoC), the newly launched Freebox STB delivers a comprehensive suite of streaming, terrestrial, on-demand and recorded content at up to four times the resolution of current HD television. For more news, visit Broadcom’s Newsroom.
Free’s Android TV set-top box leverages Broadcom’s BCM43570 for Bluetooth remote control and high quality 2×2 802.11ac Wi-Fi streaming and connectivity to create an intuitive TV experience based on Android apps and games from Google Play, alongside helpful features such as voice search and Google Cast. Broadcom’s BCM7252 STB SoC delivers the high-performance and security levels required for Android TV certification and the chip is the first to also support 4Kp60 10-bit HEVC content. The BCM7252 device harnesses a powerful dual-core 10.5K DMIPS CPU, integrated high-performance GPU, security engine, and HDMI2.0 with HDCP2.2 and supports high-speed connectivity to the companion BCM43570 Wi-Fi device. This enables Freebox to deliver vivid and finely-detailed, live, on-demand, or recorded content to their subscribers.
“We are very excited to be working with Freebox on this groundbreaking new platform,” said Rich Nelson, Broadcom Senior Vice President of Marketing, Broadband & Connectivity Group. “Supporting Android TV, Broadcom’s set-top box and connectivity devices enable Freebox to bring exciting 4K content to their subscribers in addition to all the benefits of the Android TV ecosystem.”
“As an early innovator with our triple play service for subscribers in France, Freebox has demonstrated its commitment to affordably deliver the latest in entertainment to our subscribers,” said Sebastien Boutruche, Free General Manager. “With our new Ultra HD Android TV set-top box, our customers will enjoy the stunning clarity of Ultra HD 4K content right in their homes.”
Free, an Iliad Group subsidiary, is the inventor of the Freebox, the first multiservice box on ADSL. Free provides straightforward and innovative offerings including the Freebox Revolution. As of September 30, 2014 Free’s customer base includes 15.4 million subscribers (5.8 million broadband subscribers and 9.6 million mobile subscribers).
Key Features of the Broadcom® BCM7252 Ultra HD SoC
- High-performance dual-core Brahma15 10.5K DMIPS CPU
- 3D OGLES3.1 GPU
- 4Kp60 or quad 1080p60 HEVC decode, and dual HD AVC encode
- Integrated high-performance connectivity peripherals, including USB 3.0, PCIe, Gigabit Ethernet
- High Performance DDR3/DDR4 system memory interface
- Advanced security core for HD and Ultra HD content
Availability
Broadcom’s BCM7252 Ultra HD SoC is currently in production. Freebox is shipping its 4K Android TV set-top box to consumers this month.
