Ikanos offers new Fusiv gateway processors

Communications semiconductor developer Ikanos Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: IKAN) extended its Fusiv family of gateway processors with the Fusiv Vx500 suite. The suite contains two main subsets, Vx58x and Vx57x devices.

The Vx58x vectoring xDSL gateway processors support aggregate (upstream and downstream) data rates of up to 400 Mbps with VDSL2 bonding. The chips also provide 11 GHz of offload processing for cloud access, dual-band, dual-concurrent WiFi acceleration (AC1750), LAN management and QoS, and secure content processing and distribution. The processors also leverage the Ikanos inSIGHT Broadband eXperience Manager (BXM) diagnostics and monitoring software suite to ensure rapid resolution of wiring impairments and noise interference, the company asserts.

Meanwhile, the Vx57x multimode gateway processors are designed to support any WAN access technology, which will enable equipment designers to use a common hardware and software platform to support different access technologies, Ikanos says. The processors will support such media as fiber, LTE (up to Category 7), Ethernet, and hybrid fiber-copper, including G.fast, the company says. In addition to the Fusiv offload engines, the architecture is designed with an SMP dual-core CPU subsystem offers up to 1.2 GHz of processing power per core for carrier and OEM customization and differentiation, Ikanos adds.

The new chips use the same underlying Fusiv architecture and core DSL technology as Ikanos’s existing Vx18x/Vx17x processor family. This trait facilitates time-to-market via the reuse of existing software, Ikanos says.

“Ikanos is committed to remaining one of the world’s top suppliers of high-performance gateway processors,” said Omid Tahernia, president and CEO of Ikanos. “The Vx58x family extends our xDSL gateway performance leadership for access over hybrid fiber-copper networks, enabling carriers to deliver multiple services with fiber-like performance over their existing copper infrastructure. With the introduction of the Vx57x multi-mode gateway processor family, we are extending the benefits of our advanced Fusiv acceleration processor architecture to non-DSL access networks. This enables equipment manufacturers to build a common platform for addressing multiple service provider opportunities, whether the access is through FTTN with VDSL2, FTTdp with G.fast, FTTH, LTE, Ethernet, or cable.”

“There is a disruption happening inside the home in how consumers generate, interact with, and consume various types of content, and the new generation of residential gateways is emerging as a key enabling component for the service providers in this new paradigm,” said Teresa Mastrangelo, principal analyst, Broadbandtrends. “While the tremendous opportunity created by this disruption is attracting many technology and equipment suppliers, Ikanos seems to be well positioned for this transition, given its existing gateway footprint, DSL performance leadership, unique differentiators, such as inSIGHT, and its common architecture approach to multi-access gateways.”

The new Vx500 processor family is slated to begin sampling this quarter, with production expected in the second quarter.

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