Press Release
PR2018109

Socionext Implements AV1 Encoder
on FPGA over Cloud Service
Exploring New Service-Oriented Product Offerings
Yokohama, June 6, 2018 --- Socionext Inc., a leader in advanced SoC technology for video andimaging systems, has developed a prototype implementation of video encoder functionalities of thelatest video compression format AV1 onto Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) F1 Instance.
Utilizing F1, Socionext was able to complete the development and achieved high performance in justone and a half months. Based on this result, Socionext will explore the possibility of new,service-oriented products that allow customers to use functions of semiconductor devices throughcloud services, and to provide users with other accelerators built on the cloud to boost theproductivity of large-scale, high performance cloud-based applications.
Socionext has been a leading solution provider for a wide range of video processing applications,featuring the advanced codec MB86M30 and the hybrid codec module M820 series in which the "M30"
is integrated.
AV1 is a new, advanced video data compression standard established by the Alliance for Open Media,
a consortium that includes Socionext. AV1 is capable of compressing data about 30% more effectively
than HEVC, while keeping the same image quality. The first official specification of AV1 was releasedin March, and many hardware and software companies are developing the implementation. It isexpected that the introduction of this new format will further promote the distribution ofhigh-definition, high-quality video contents such as 4K.
Socionext has chosen Amazon EC2 F1 Instance as
the environment in which it built a dedicatedencoding accelerator onto an FPGA, available overthe cloud with the Instance. It is the first prototype ofa hardware-based implementation of an AV1
encoder system. By utilizing F1, Socionext was able
to complete the development in just one and a halfmonths, while also delivering very high hardware
accelerator performance. It runs 10x faster thanexisting encoders running on a CPU only.
Socionext presented this result at the "AWS SummitTokyo 2018" on June 1st.

Figure: Performance improvement of AV1 codec
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Socionext Inc.
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Based on this encouraging result, Socionext will be able to quickly offer customers an environment touse the codec functionality through the cloud. Socionext also expects that it can help boost theperformance of large-scale, high-performance cloud based applications, by building various custom
accelerators on FPGAs over the cloud, such as provided by AWS EC2 F1. Socionext will continue toexplore future offerings of such service-oriented product, in addition to other silicon products.

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Socionext Inc.
+81-45-568-1077
Inquiry form︓www.socionext.com/en/contact

About Socionext Inc.
Socionext is a new, innovative enterprise that designs, develops and delivers System-on-Chip products tocustomers worldwide. The company is focused on imaging, networking, computing and other dynamictechnologies that drive today’s leading-edge applications. Socionext combines world-class expertise, experience,and an extensive IP portfolio to provide exceptional solutions and ensure a better quality of experience forcustomers. Founded in 2015, Socionext Inc. is headquartered in Yokohama, and has offices in Japan, Asia,
United States and Europe to lead its product development and sales activities. For more information, visit
www.socionext.com/enAll company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change
without advance notice.
Amazon Web Services, AWS, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, Amazon EC2 are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc.
or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.