PMC-Sierra Unveils Industry-Leading Device for IP DSLAMs To Accelerate

    Business Editors/Technology Writers

    SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2005--PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS) today announced the PM7354 S/UNI(R) DUPLEX GE, a low cost ATM-to-Ethernet interworking device for IP DSLAMs (see: Figure 1). S/UNI DUPLEX GE based IP DSLAM architectures enable original equipment manufacturers to lower overall development and product costs, while allowing their customers to reduce field deployment costs and offer value-added Triple Play services.
    "PMC-Sierra's S/UNI DUPLEX GE is the ideal line card solution for our DSLAM platforms," said Mr. Maoping He, chief engineer at ZTE Corporation. "We will be able to provide our customers very cost competitive and feature-rich IP DSLAMs in various form-factors because of the flexibility offered by the S/UNI DUPLEX GE."
    "Ethernet-enabled DSLAM adoption by carriers has increased markedly in the last two years, with RHK estimating the broadband platform secured 16% of the DSLAM market in 2004," said Roy Rubenstein, senior analyst at market research and advisory company, RHK Inc. "The announcement by PMC-Sierra of its S/UNI DUPLEX GE positions it well to take advantage of this growing DSL opportunity, given that Ethernet-enabled and IP DSLAMs will become the architecture of choice for new triple play services delivery."
    "PMC-Sierra is one of the major component suppliers to the DSLAM market," said Greg Aasen, vice president and general manager, Communication Products Division at PMC-Sierra. "As the demand for interactive services such as Voice-over-IP and Video-on-Demand grows, the requirements for high bandwidth and symmetrical communications will continue to increase. The S/UNI DUPLEX GE provides DSLAM vendors with increased bandwidth in low-cost multi-service IP DSLAMs."

    Increasing DSLAM Vendor ROI and Reducing Service Provider CAPEX

    As the ATM networks are migrating to Ethernet-based IP networks, service providers are deploying DSLAMs that can interface to the ATM-based CPE on one side and the Ethernet access network on the other. The S/UNI DUPLEX GE implements ATM to Ethernet conversion in dedicated hardware, a function deployed to date in expensive network processors or FPGAs. This significantly reduces line card cost which is a major portion of the IP DSLAM bill of materials.
    The hardware-based S/UNI DUPLEX GE also eliminates the need for proprietary software for network processors and reduces the overall development cost of the IP DSLAM. The combination of lower BOM and development costs provides original equipment manufacturers with a better return on investment on their IP DSLAMs while being price competitive. Service providers can reduce their CapEx by deploying low cost DSLAMs. At the same time, they can increase the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) by taking advantage of Triple Play service offerings.

    Providing Quality of Service and Multicast at Gigabit Ethernet Rates

    The S/UNI DUPLEX GE terminates ATM traffic from the customer premises equipment (CPE) on line cards thus enabling usage of off-the-shelf Ethernet switches in DSLAMs (see: Figure 2). The device can simultaneously aggregate up to 144 ADSL2+ modems and offers attractive features such as full Gigabit Ethernet line rate throughput, advanced quality of service (QoS) and non-blocking multicast. Eight classes of service simplify end-customer SLA management and offer further upgrade flexibility for advanced CPEs capable of providing voice, video, and data services.
    Configurable data encapsulation schemes ensure the reusability of the IP DSLAM line-cards across various geographic locations. The S/UNI DUPLEX GE also offers a migration path for ATM DSLAMs that are based on the PMC-Sierra VORTEX(TM) chip set by providing the option for Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.

    Single Chip Supports Multiple Architectures

    The high level of integration in the S/UNI DUPLEX GE ensures its applicability in multiple architectures. The device has Utopia Level 2 interface for connection to ADSL/ADSL2/ADSL2+ modems and an optional POS PHY Level 2 interface for connection to VDSL modems. DSLAM vendors can take advantage of multiple interfaces to deploy a SUNI DUPLEX GE based system with a mix-and-match of ADSL and VDSL line cards. Integrated dual Gigabit Ethernet SERDES interfaces provide redundancy and backplane driving capabilities in modular central office DSLAMs. When used in fixed remote DSLAMs or Next-Gen DLCs, the SERDES interfaces provide direct connection to SFP optics (see: Figure 3).

    Pricing, Availability and Customer Support

    The PM7354 S/UNI DUPLEX GE device is designed in 0.13 micron CMOS technology and packaged in a 352 ball, 27x27mm HSPBGA package. The evaluation kit for the S/UNI DUPLEX GE includes PMC-Sierra's MSP2006 control processor and the SwitchCore CXE2130 Ethernet switch. Pricing is available upon request. The S/UNI DUPLEX GE device and the evaluation kit will be available in Q2, 2005. A comprehensive support product package including datasheets, application notes, device models, reference design, and software is available. Please contact PMC-Sierra applications support for more information at apps@pmc-sierra.com or visit www.pmc-sierra.com/networking.

    About PMC-Sierra

    PMC-Sierra(TM) is a leading provider of high-speed broadband communications and storage semiconductors and MIPS-Powered(TM) processors for Enterprise, Access, Metro Optical Transport, Storage Area Networking and Wireless network equipment. The company offers worldwide technical and sales support, including a network of offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The company is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the PMCS symbol and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information, visit www.pmc-sierra.com.

    Attachments

    Figure 1: PM7354 S/UNI DUPLEX GE Block Diagram

    Figure 2: Modular GE Uplink DSLAM

    Figure 3: Fixed Remote DSLAM

    Figures available at: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/pdf/20050221_fig1.pdf

    Product Photo available at:

    http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/photos/hi-res/Suni_DUPLEX_GE_ 5x7_300dpi.jpg (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. You may also need to remove an extra space in the URL if one exists.)

    Resources to Extend Your Product Knowledge and Understanding

    PMC-Sierra Networking Products www.pmc-sierra.com/networking

    PMC-Sierra New Products www.pmc-sierra.com/products/newProducts.html

    PMC-Sierra Networking Webinars www.pmc-sierra.com/webinars

    (C) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2005. SUNI is a registered trademark of PMC-Sierra, Inc. PMC, PMCS, PMC-Sierra, VORTEX and "Thinking you can build on" are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc.

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CONTACT: PMC-Sierra Susan Shaw, 604-415-6031 susan_shaw@pmc-sierra.com or US Editorial Christian Bateman, 415-882-9494 batemanc@loomisgroup.com or China Editorial Jo Soo, +011 852.2837.4744 jo.soo@edelman.com or Japan Editorial Toshiyuki Okazaki, +011 81.422.50.1280 okazakit@loomisgroup.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING PRODUCT SOURCE: PMC-Sierra, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005