iamba Networks and K-micro team on GPON SoCs

JUNE 5, 2007 -- iamba Networks (search for iamba Networks), provider of GPON equipment and Kawasaki Microelectronics Inc. (search for K-micro), provider of advanced ASICs, have collaborated on the development of a family GPON systems-on-a-chip (SoCs). The new devices will be marketed as part of iGES (iamba GPON Eco-System), an end-to-end GPON suite for telecommunication equipment manufacturers (TEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs).

Combining iamba's GPON expertise with K-micro's burst mode clock data recovery (BM-CDR) technology and ASIC design expertise, the two companies say they are introducing innovative, high-performance, and highly integrated SoCs for optical network termination (ONT) and optical line termination (OLT) applications. The SoC devices include the iSN1000, a family of ONT SoCs for single family unit (SFU), small business unit (SBU), and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) applications and the iSL2404, a quad-PON OLT SoC for central office (CO) access platforms, providing full 1-Gbit/sec wire speed at low cost.

The iSN1000 ONT SoCs are based on a multi-core processor architecture and include low jitter SERDES, iamba's GPON MAC Module (iGMM), and iamba's Traffic Pump Module (iTPM) delivering full 1-Gbit/sec wire-speed data at all packet sizes. The iSN1000 line comprises versions optimized for SFU, SBU and MDU applications and is supported by system-level software packages covering all management, VoIP, IPTV, and legacy services, say the companies.
 
The iSL2404 is a quad-PON OLT SoC, which supports 128 ONTs per PON, forward error correction (FEC) and advanced encryption standard (AES). The device, based on a multi-core processor architecture, also supports a powerful dynamic bandwidth allocation (iDBA) function that maximizes the bandwidth utilization of the PON interface. The iSL2404 is based on the iSL2402 design, currently in use by a number of Tier-1 TEMs, and has been successfully tested by leading carriers in the United States, Europe, and Asia.  

K-micro's burst mode clock and data recovery (BM-CDR) technology has been integrated into the new iSL2404. K-micro says the BM-CDR technology has been successfully integrated in two previous generations of products: the first-generation "Copper Tub" (CT1) that runs at 1.244/1.244 Gbits/sec, and the more recent CT2 that runs at 2.488/1.244 Gbits/sec. The design supports data bursts of variable size with minimum spacing, without loss of lock, and incorporates a variety of advanced features to support functions such as optoelectronics control, user-defined fast lock window, and chatter suppression. Implementation of this functionality in a pure CMOS process in a single chip minimizes power dissipation and device cost.

"The combination of iamba's GPON expertise and K-micro's technological advantage has enabled the development of the most complete end-to-end silicon solution for the GPON market, offering the most efficient and cost-effective GPON solution to TEMs and ODMs," contends Hideki Yoneda, executive vice president of business development at K-micro. "This advanced technology enables iamba to provide their customers with high performance at a low cost."

"The collaboration between iamba and K-micro brings to market the best-in-class, most advanced GPON SoCs as part of the iGES, the iamba GPON Eco-System, the first truly comprehensive GPON suite for TEMs and ODMs," adds Moshe Nattiv, CEO of iamba Networks. "iGES offers TEMs and ODMs the most expedient and risk-free GPON solution by providing them a complete family of products suitable for the entire ecosystem," he asserts.

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