Passave achieves FEC breakthrough in Ethernet, FTTH

March 8, 2005 Santa Clara, CA -- Passave, a provider of semiconductors for FTTH applications, has released a sophisticated error-correction mechanism for Ethernet-based passive optical networks (EPONs). The company says its forward error correction (FEC) mechanism enables the use of low-cost, low-power lasers in optical networks, allowing Ethernet to successfully transmit data over low-quality transmission lines, such as those using aging fiber.

FEC is a mechanism by which a transmitting system encodes data, so that the receiving system can use redundant data to correct transmission errors. Error-correction mechanisms are used widely in data communications, but, according to the company, have not previously been adapted to Ethernet.

The company holds that FEC is an important enhancement to Ethernet-based systems as they migrate beyond corporate or other internal networks. According to the company, FEC demonstrates that Ethernet is an ideal communications protocol for access networks, effectively making Ethernet a seamless link from consumers all the way to metro and long-haul networks.

The company says FEC doubles the reach of a FTTH network, while also doubling the number of customers that can be served from a single optical line terminal (OLT) in a central office. The company contends that FEC improves the cost-performance curve for FTTH, cementing it as a cost-competitive technology with DSL and cable modem services, while providing approximately one thousand times the bandwidth of those technologies.

"FEC is proving to be one of the most innovative enhancements to the Ethernet standard, and we are pleased to provide this to the market," remarks Ariel Maislos, president of Passave. "By integrating FEC in EPON, Passave enables carriers worldwide to offer FTTH service to more customers in a highly cost-effective manner."

The company's FEC mechanism is now available as part of its PAS6201 EPON Optical Networking Unit (ONU) device.