PMC-Sierra Introduces Analog Front End Devices for GPON and EPON Fiber-To-The-Home Central Office Equipment

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2006--
New AFEs Will Lower Cost of Passive Optical Network Deployments in Global Markets

PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS) today announced the availability of four new Analog Front End Devices (AFEs) for GPON and EPON FTTH equipment. These new Physical layer devices will compliment PMC-Sierra's line of networking SoCs for GPON and EPON systems, creating the industry's most complete FTTH product portfolio. Using these new Physical layer devices, system and sub-system OEMs will be able to lower the cost of GPON and EPON access network equipment that delivers carrier-grade triple-play services -- voice, data and IPTV -- to consumers worldwide. According to a recent report from CIR, a leading industry analyst firm, the component and module market for FTTx networks is estimated to grow from approximately $630 million in 2006 to more than $1.5 billion by 2011.

"The introduction of these new devices demonstrates PMC-Sierra's commitment to providing a complete family of products for both GPON and EPON FTTH deployments," said Victor Vaisleib, general manager of the FTTH Business Unit at PMC-Sierra. "They will enable system OEMs to produce higher-performance systems for IEEE802.3ah EPON, which is widely deployed in Asia, and ITU-T G.984 GPON, which is increasingly popular in North America. PMC-Sierra is the only company with a complete set of AFEs and networking SoCs for both PON standards. In particular, our GPON AFEs significantly exceed the ITU specifications for burst acquisition timing, sensitivity and dynamic range, and include a built-in diagnostic function, providing for a more robust, yet lower-cost solution than those previously available."

The new GPON devices include the PAS7351 GPON Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) and the PAS7361 GPON Limiting Amplifier (LIA), that together form a Gigabit PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT) burst receiver for use in ITU-T G.984 GPON transceivers (see Figure 1). A GPON transceiver based on the PAS7351/PAS7361 can surpass the requirements for GPON low power and high power Class B+ burst-mode applications, enable a 64-user split ratio at low signal-to-noise environments, and increase network design flexibility. The devices can provide a signal sensitivity of -33 dBm with a dynamic range of more than 26 dBm. Acquisition time can be as low as 24 bits. Both of these devices support PIN and avalanche photodiode (APD) receiver applications and include embedded PON diagnostics functions. The devices use a single 3.3V power supply and provide for LVCML differential output, either AC- or DC-coupled with direct photodiode input.

The new EPON devices include the PAS5351 EPON Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) and the PAS5361 EPON Limiting Amplifier (LIA). Together they form a Gigabit Ethernet PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT) burst receiver that exceeds the IEEE802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile EPON transceiver standard (see Figure 2).

"Compared with EPON, GPON systems have greater timing sensitivities that require high performance PHY devices," said Jag Bolaria, senior industry analyst with The Linley Group. "PMC is the first major company to support both GPON and EPON standards, with these high performance PHYs and a broad product line that includes SoC devices for both Central Office and Customer Premise Equipment."

Visit PMC-Sierra at Broadband World Forum Americas

PMC-Sierra will be showcasing its portfolio of solutions for passive optical networking and customer premises equipment at Broadband World Forum Americas in Booth #6003, from September 12-13, 2006 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Pricing, Availability and Customer Support

The GPON PAS7351 TIA and the PAS7361 LIA are priced at $25 for the pair in quantities of 10,000 with samples available now. The EPON PAS5351 TIA and the PAS5361 LIA are also priced at $25 for the pair in 10,000 quantities with samples available now. Both TIA devices are available in unpackaged die. For more information, contact a PMC-Sierra sales representative at http://www.pmc-sierra.com/contactSales. A comprehensive support package, including datasheets and application notes is available at www.pmc-sierra.com/ftth-pon.

About PMC-Sierra's FTTH Family of Products

PMC-Sierra is the only supplier to support both EPON (IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile) and GPON (ITU-T G.984) standards. The Company's gigabit PON products are based on the robust GigaPASS(TM) FTTH Architecture that achieves sustained gigabit and greater data rates while providing a powerful 32-bit programmable processing engine executing the real-time operating system, middleware and application-specific firmware required for high performance FTTH network access functions. PMC-Sierra system-on-a-chip solutions provide end-to-end gigabit per second bandwidth solutions linking central office equipment and customer premise equipment. OLT (optical line terminal) devices connect the central office to the PON network and ONU or ONT devices connect customer premises to the PON network. For more information, visit www.pmc-sierra.com/ftth-pon.

About PMC-Sierra

PMC-Sierra(TM) is a leading provider of broadband communications and storage semiconductors for metro, access, fiber to the home, wireless infrastructure, storage, laser printers and customer premises equipment. PMC-Sierra offers worldwide technical and sales support, including a network of offices throughout North America, Europe, Israel and Asia. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the PMCS symbol and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information, visit www.pmc-sierra.com.

Attachments:

Figure 1: GPON TIA and LIA Block Diagram

Figure 2: EPON TIA and LIA Block Diagram

For figures visit: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/pdf/TIA_LIA_figure.pdf

For photos visit: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/images/TIA_LIA.JPG

Resources to Extend Your Product Knowledge and Understanding

PMC-Sierra FTTH Products www.pmc-sierra.com/ftth-pon

PMC-Sierra New Products www.pmc-sierra.com/products/newProducts.html

PMC-Sierra Webinars www.pmc-sierra.com/webinars

(C) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2006. All rights reserved. PMC is a registered trademark of PMC-Sierra, Inc. in the United States and other countries. PMC-SIERRA, PMCS "Thinking You can Build On" and GigaPASS are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners