NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews

FOR:  SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING INC.

TSX SYMBOL:  SSY
NASDAQ SYMBOL:  SSPI

SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 - 07:00 ET

Spectrum Signal Processing to Assist Thales Underwater
Systems in Mine Detection from an Unmanned Underwater
Vehicle

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA-- 

flexComm(TM) Software Reconfigurable Platform to be Utilized for 
Naval Sonar Processing 

Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. (NASDAQ: SSPI / TSX: SSY), a 
leading provider of high performance solutions for wireless 
signal and packet-voice processing, today announced that it will 
be providing software reconfigurable signal processing platforms 
to Thales Underwater Systems. The platforms, based on Spectrum's 
SDR-3000 family of software reconfigurable platforms, will be 
used for detection of mines from an unmanned underwater vehicle 
(UUV). 

"This is yet another example of the power and broad applicability 
of Spectrum's software reconfigurable platforms for use by NATO 
allies in applications ranging from signals intelligence and 
military communications to radar and sonar," said Sean Howe, Vice 
President and General Manager of Spectrum's Wireless Systems 
Group. "The flexibility and processing power of software 
reconfigurable platforms like the SDR-3000 are enabling future 
military systems to meet the objectives of a new paradigm in 
military warfare that will result in greater effectiveness with 
lower risk to human life." 

Unmanned underwater vehicles are an attractive means for mine 
detection as they can be remotely controlled, thereby not 
jeopardizing human lives during a mission. Underwater explosive 
mines have become increasingly stealthy and are often situated in 
confined or shallow waters, which makes them even more difficult 
to detect. New generation mine hunting sonars demand 
sophisticated signal processing techniques and technologies to 
address these challenges. 

The flexComm SDR-3000 configuration for Thales combines high 
performance Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) from Xilinx(R) 
and PowerPC(R) processors from Motorola and IBM to do the sonar 
processing. In order to get maximum benefit from the processing 
power of the platform, RapidIO(TM) and Spectrum's Solano(R) 
fabric provide high speed interconnects between the processors. 
Spectrum will also provide software and FPGA support. 

About Thales Underwater Systems 

Thales Underwater Systems (TUS) is the major supplier of sonar 
and allied systems to naval forces worldwide. In addition to its 
three domestic customers (France, UK, and Australia), TUS has an 
export customer base of about 40 nations. The Company is the only 
sonar system supplier which provides a complete range of systems 
for anti- submarine warfare and mine warfare, for use by all 
platforms - nuclear and conventional submarines, surface ships, 
fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, minehunters and unmanned 
underwater vehicles. In addition, TUS supplies seismic oil and 
gas exploration systems, torpedo homing heads, and port security 
systems. These products are backed by a comprehensive range of 
customer support products and services. For more information, 
visit www.thales-underwater.com. 

About Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. 

Spectrum Signal Processing designs, develops and markets high 
performance wireless signal processing and packet-voice 
processing platforms for use in defense and communications 
infrastructure equipment. Spectrum's optimized hardware, software 
and chip technology work together to collect, compress and 
convert voice and data signals. Leveraging its 16 years of design 
expertise, Spectrum provides its customers with faster time to 
market and lower costs by delivering highly flexible, reliable 
and high-density solutions. Spectrum subsystems are targeted for 
use in government intelligence, surveillance and communications 
systems, satellite hubs, cellular base stations, media gateways 
and next-generation voice and data switches. More information on 
Spectrum and its flexComm and aXs(TM) product lines is available 
at www.spectrumsignal.com. 

This news release contains forward-looking statements related to 
the sale of Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. flexComm products to 
Thales Underwater Systems. The statements are made pursuant to 
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation 
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and 
uncertainties, including the timely development and acceptance of 
new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, 
changing market conditions and the other risks detailed in the 
company's prospectus and from time-to-time in other filings. 
Actual results may differ materially form those projected. These 
forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of 
the date of this report and the company may or may not update 
these forward-looking statements in the future. Readers are 
referred to Spectrum's assumptions and risk factors set out in 
the most current Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission. 

(TM) flexComm and aXs are trademarks of Spectrum Signal 
Processing Inc. 

(R) Solano is a trademark of Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. 

(R) Xilinx is a trademark of Xilinx, Inc. 

(R)PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines 
Corporation. 

(TM) RapidIO is a trademark of the RapidIO Trade Association. 

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