Actel Announces License Agreement with Motorola for DirectCore IP and FPGAs

Actel's Core3DES and CoreAES128 DirectCores and ProASIC^PLUS FPGAs Enable Fast Encryption/Decryption to Support Video-on-Demand

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., October 11, 2004 — Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL) today announced it has licensed its DirectCore intellectual property (IP) for use in its ProASIC^PLUS field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to the Motorola, Inc. Broadband Communications Sector. Actel's secure IP encryption cores, the Core3DES and CoreAES128, support the high data rates of video-on-demand (VOD) applications and help reduce design costs and speed time to market. Actel's ProASIC^PLUS FPGAs are single-chip, live-at-power-up solutions that deliver the high security and low power consumption needed for cable head-end equipment and other broadband applications.

Yankin Tanurhan, senior director, IP solutions and applications at Actel, said, "Especially as new content and services are finding their way into the home via existing coaxial cable, video and data security is a critical issue facing the telecommunications industry. For years, system designers have leveraged the benefits of our IP encryption cores and highly reliable, single-chip FPGAs to secure their systems from potential hackers."

Actel's Core3DES IP decrypts and re-encrypts codes under Actel's CoreAES128 IP for integration with third-party Simulcrypt digital VOD applications.

Actel DirectCore and CompanionCore Solutions

Actel offers its own system-level IP solutions, called DirectCores, specifically designed and optimized for use with Actel devices. The company also offers third-party IP blocks, called CompanionCores, that have been tested and verified in Actel FPGAs. Covering applications ranging from embedded systems to consumer and communications, the cores offered include bus interfaces, communication controllers and interfaces, processors and peripherals, encryption and memory controllers as well as multimedia and error correction. Actel DirectCore and CompanionCore products offer seamless implementation through Actel's suite of internal and third-party EDA development tools and quality documentation, service and support, thereby streamlining the design process, enabling faster time to market and minimizing design costs and risks. For more information on the CompanionCore Alliance Program, DirectCores or CompanionCores, visit the IP section on the Actel Web site at http://www.actel.com/products/ip/.

About Actel
Actel Corporation is a supplier of innovative programmable logic solutions, including field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) based on antifuse and flash technologies, high-performance intellectual property (IP) cores, software development tools, and design services, targeted for the high-speed communications, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) replacement and radiation-tolerant markets. Founded in 1985, Actel employs more than 500 people worldwide. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA, 94043-4655. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Internet: http://www.actel.com.

The Actel name and logo are trademarks of Actel Corporation. MOTOROLA and the stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other trademarks and servicemarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact: Stephanie Mrus, Actel Corporation, 650.318.4614