Astral Point selects Agere equipment for optical transport system

Astral Point Communications Inc. has selected Agere�s programmable 6.8-Gbit/sec backplane transceiver chip and SONET overhead path processor for its ON 7000 Integrated Optical Transport Node. The ON 7000 combines SONET OC-192 transport with DWDM in a single platform for metropolitan area networking applications, including long-haul capability advances that support regional interoffice networking.

Agere�s ORT8850L transceiver is a field-programmable system chip (FPSC) that rovides networking equipment designers with proven backplane driver and eceiver technology and customizable logic for transporting various traffic rotocols over SONET metro- and wide-area networks, including IP, ATM, and packet-over-SONET. The device incorporates eight transceiver channels, each operating at 850 Mbits/sec in standard cell logic, and provides up to 200K programmable gates for Agere-supplied or customer intellectual property.

For more information about Agere Systems (Allentown, PA), visit the company�s Web site at www.agere.com. Additional information about Astral Point Communications (Chelmsford, MA) may be found at its Web site, www.astralpoint.com.