SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 -- PMC-Sierra Inc. (search PMC-Sierra) today announced the availability of four new analog front-end devices (AFEs) for GPON and EPON fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) equipment.
According to PMC-Sierra, these new Physical layer devices will compliment the company's line of networking system-on-chips (SoCs) for GPON and EPON systems, creating what PMC-Sierra claims is the industry's most complete FTTH product portfolio.
Using these new Physical layer devices, system and sub-system OEMs will be able to lower the cost of GPON and EPON access network equipment that delivers carrier-grade triple-play services to consumers worldwide, say company representatives. According to a recent report from industry analyst firm CIR, the component and module market for FTTx networks is estimated to grow from approximately $630 million in 2006 to more than $1.5 billion by 2011.
"The introduction of these new devices demonstrates PMC-Sierra's commitment to providing a complete family of products for both GPON and EPON FTTH deployments," asserts Victor Vaisleib, general manager of the FTTH Business Unit at PMC-Sierra. "They will enable system OEMs to produce higher-performance systems for IEEE802.3ah EPON, which is widely deployed in Asia, and ITU-T G.984 GPON, which is increasingly popular in North America. PMC-Sierra is the only company with a complete set of AFEs and networking SoCs for both PON standards," he notes. "In particular, our GPON AFEs significantly exceed the ITU specifications for burst acquisition timing, sensitivity, and dynamic range and include a built-in diagnostic function, providing for a more robust, yet lower-cost solution than those previously available."
The new GPON devices include the PAS7351 GPON Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) and the PAS7361 GPON Limiting Amplifier (LIA), that together form a Gigabit PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT) burst receiver for use in ITU-T G.984 GPON transceivers.
A GPON transceiver based on the PAS7351/PAS7361 can surpass the requirements for GPON low-power and high-power Class B+ burst-mode applications, enable a 64-user split ratio at low signal-to-noise environments, and increase network design flexibility.
The devices can provide a signal sensitivity of -33 dBm with a dynamic range of more than 26 dBm. Acquisition time can be as low as 24 bits. Both of these devices support PIN and avalanche photodiode (APD) receiver applications and include embedded PON diagnostics functions. The devices use a single 3.3-V power supply and provide for LVCML differential output, either AC- or DC-coupled with direct photodiode input.
The new EPON devices include the PAS5351 EPON Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) and the PAS5361 EPON Limiting Amplifier (LIA). Together they form a Gigabit Ethernet PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT) burst receiver that exceeds the IEEE802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile EPON transceiver standard.
"Compared with EPON, GPON systems have greater timing sensitivities that require high performance PHY devices," explains Jag Bolaria, senior industry analyst with The Linley Group. "PMC is the first major company to support both GPON and EPON standards, with these high performance PHYs and a broad product line that includes SoC devices for both central office and customer premise equipment."
The GPON PAS7351 TIA and the PAS7361 LIA are priced at $25 for the pair in quantities of 10,000 with samples available now. The EPON PAS5351 TIA and the PAS5361 LIA are also priced at $25 for the pair in 10,000 quantities with samples available now. Both TIA devices are available in unpackaged die.
Visit PMC-Sierra