PMC-Sierra and Entropic Communications collaborate to extend fiber reach for cable operators

OCTOBER 21, 2009 -- PMC-Sierra Inc., a provider of semiconductors for Internet infrastructure, and Entropic Communications Inc., a provider of silicon and software to enable connected home entertainment networking, are collaborating to develop an cost-effective solution for delivering broadband connectivity faster than 100 Mbps to each customer in MSO fiber deployments. The companies will demonstrate this concept during the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in Denver, CO, Oct. 28-30, 2009.

As demand for bandwidth grows, cable operators are evaluating the advantages of using PON technologies as an efficient method of driving fiber deeper into their networks. By combining PMC-Sierra's high-speed standard-compliant EPON and 10G EPON solutions and Entropic's Access technology, the companies claim MSOs will be able to cost-effectively extend the reach of their networks while using the existing coax infrastructure to deliver high-speed connectivity to single-family homes and multiple-dwelling units.

The partnership will rely on Entropic's Access technology deployed in emerging and rapidly growing Ethernet over coax (EoC) markets worldwide, which enables bidirectional communication over coax for MSOs. The joint demonstration will showcase Entropic's EoC combined with PMC-Sierra's scalable PON devices, featuring a seamless fiber-to-coax system using PMC-Sierra's PAS8011 10G EPON optical line terminal (OLT), which serves up to 32 optical networking units (ONUs) and terminates to Entropic's Access network controller, supporting up to 63 homes with more than 100 Mbps of aggregate throughput over the existing coaxial network. The demonstration will also show the network management capabilities of Entropic's Access and PMC-Sierra's MSO management software suite.

"Our Broadband Access solution offers a unique and cost-effective way to extend the reach of existing fiber over coax cable," says Vinay Gokhale, senior vice president, marketing and business development, Entropic. "By working with partners such as PMC-Sierra, we are able to further our mission to bring high-speed access and connected home entertainment networking solutions to the worldwide market."

"We continue to strengthen our position as the dominant FTTH silicon solution provider addressing the EPON, GPON, 10G EPON, and [10GPON] markets, and we are working with partners like Entropic to bring this expertise to the MSO space," says Raphael Sankar, vice president and co-general manager of PMC-Sierra's FTTH division. "This demonstration, along with our MSO management software suite, shows our commitment to this growing market."


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