March 8, 2005 Petaluma, CA -- Teknovus, a provider of semiconductors for broadband optical access networks, today announced that its TK3700-series Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) chipset is being used in KDDI's Hikari-Plus Home FTTH service. KDDI, one of Japan's largest service providers, is using the company's equipment to build a nationwide network for the delivery of "triple-play" voice, video, and data services to residential customers.
"KDDI is the first example of a top-tier Japanese service provider using EPON to offer high-end voice, data, and video residential services that compete directly with cable, DSL, and satellite-based networks," remarks Dr. Rex Naden, CEO of Teknovus.
"To compete in the Japanese market we must provide ultra-high quality services, including copper-grade VoIP, advanced video services, and QoS-aware data services," confirms Shigeo Morita, senior manager of KDDI's broadband engineering department. "After testing and researching our alternatives, it was clear that Teknovus has the best EPON chipset that meets our requirements and is ready for deployment."
The company says typical prototype design cycles for its TK3700-series chipsets are four weeks for single-chip, residential optical network units (ONUs), and eight weeks for central office optical line terminals (OLTs). The company claims this allows its customers to deliver operational systems to service providers in under three months. According to the company, its streamlined design cycles have reduced EPON system development time by more than 60 percent, when compared to designs based on older EPON technology.
According to a press release, the company has shipped more than one million EPON ports to more than twenty OEMs in Asia, North America, and Europe, with sales growing annually.