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The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
April 21, 2003
Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Invest 200 Billion Yen Over
Three Years in Semiconductor Fabrication
Installation of fabrication line supporting 65 nanometer process technology
TOKYO, JAPAN, April 21, 2003 - Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc. (SCEI) and Sony Corporation (Sony) announced today that they
would invest a total of approximately 200 billion yen over three
fiscal years from 2003 to 2005 in the installation of a semiconductor
fabrication line to build chips with 65 nanometer process on 300
mm wafers.
With this investment, SCEI will manufacture the new microprocessor
for the broadband era, code-named "Cell", as well as other
system LSIs, to be used for the next generation computer entertainment
system. This investment serves an important role not only for SCEI
but also for the Sony Group to develop future broadband network
businesses.
Of the 200 billion yen, 73 billion yen will be invested in the FY2003.
Installment of a new semiconductor fabrication line for building
chips with 65 nanometer process on 300mm wafers will be initiated
in SCEI's Fab2, a semiconductor fabrication facility located in
Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Test production will begin using
the new fabrication line, gradually moving on to mass production.
Execution of the entire investment will be determined by taking
optimal timing, place and allocation into consideration.
Since the spring of 2001, SCEI has been engaged, together with IBM
Corporation (IBM) and Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba), in the development
of the new microprocessor for the broadband era. Also, since the
spring of 2002, Sony has participated in the said three company
alliance for the development of the advanced semiconductor process
technologies. Research and development of digital signal processing
technologies for broadband applications are also being conducted.
By means of this investment, SCEI and Sony aim to effectively conduct
test production, and to quickly establish a mass production system
with 65 nanometer embedded DRAM process.
"Our work with SCEI and Toshiba on the Cell broadband processor
has progressed extremely well," said Dr. John Kelly, senior
vice president and group executive for the IBM Technology Group.
"We believe the Cell design, and the advanced technologies
like SOI with which it will be manufactured, will help change the
way people work, play and communicate. This announcement by SCEI/Sony
is a confirmation of the progress we've made with the Cell design
itself, of our advances in semiconductor technology to help it reach
its full potential and of Cell's far-reaching implications for a
wide variety of applications."
"One of our key semiconductor business strategies is to place
Toshiba in the vanguard in providing processor-centric system-on-chip
solutions. Cell, which we are developing with SCEI and IBM, is an
essential, next-generation broadband processor, a core product whose
sales we will actively promote," said Takeshi Nakagawa, Corporate
Senior Vice President of Toshiba Corporation. "We expect to
apply Cell to a wide range of applications related to broadband
networks, including digital consumer electronics and mobile terminals.
Today's announcement by Sony group shows that the Cell development
project is proceeding as planned and will accelerate the realization
of our expectations."
"The introduction of advanced semiconductor technologies is
imperative for the next generation processors that support the broadband
network era," said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO of Sony
Computer Entertainment and executive deputy president of Sony Corporation.
"Digital consumer electronics and network products to enjoy
various broadband applications in homes, such as games, movies,
music and digital broadcasting, will play a leading role in the
future together with the evolution of PC. Sony Group aims to further
develop and expand the market with its advanced semiconductor technologies
and a rich and wide array of applications. This investment forms
a strategic foundation towards this goal."
"SCEI's Fab 2 already applies the most advanced semiconductor
technology to produce high performance LSIs, not only for game hardware
but also other electronic products," said Kunitake Ando, President
and Group COO, Sony Corporation. "The planned investment will
further enhance this advanced semiconductor facility to become a
technology driver for the next generation of Sony products. Building
on this, Sony's Broadband Network Company, newly established as
of April this year, will play a key role in developing next generation
electronic devices and linkages to game devices."
SCEI and Sony aim to actively develop businesses as leading companies
in the broadband network era and to be the driving forces in the
next generation semiconductor business.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation(R) game console and PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc., develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these two platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.
About Sony
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game,
communications and information technology products for the consumer
and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment
and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be a leading
personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded
consolidated annual sales of nearly $57 billion for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2002. Sony's Home Page
URL:www.sony.net/
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