Entropic Wraps Trident STB SoC Purchase

Connected-home provider Entropic Communications Inc. inked the final papers regarding its acquisition of Trident Microsystems’ set-top box (STB) system-on-a-chip (SoC) business. 

According to the buyer, Entropic says it “gains greater scale, an expanded product line, deeper technical expertise and a broader global customer base.”

The acquired assets include Trident’s complete STB product portfolio that includes a suite of digital STB components and system solutions for the worldwide satellite, terrestrial, cable and IPTV markets. The STB offering includes STB SoCs, DOCSIS modems, interface devices and media processors.

The products also feature a range of ARM application processor-based SoCs Trident says were optimized for leading Web technologies in addition to traditional standard-definition STBs and advanced high-def STBs. 

"This transaction is a watershed event for Entropic and will have a major impact on the scope and scale of our business going forward," says Entropic President/CEO Patrick Henry. "The acquisition expands our presence in the connected-home-entertainment market by providing us with complementary assets, intellectual property, patents, core competencies and products that address a much larger available market while expanding our international presence and diversifying our revenue base.”

He adds, “Our best-in-class MoCA solutions, including MoCA2, combined with Trident’s STB SoC business creates the only pure-play company focused on connected-home solutions for the world’s premier cable, telco and satellite service providers."

Approximately 365 Trident employees now are Entropic staffers, including Mark Samuel, former senior vice president/general manager for Trident’s STB business, who becomes senior vice president/Set-Top Box Business Unit, reporting to the president.