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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Breaking News -
Networking:
Parama Chip To Reinvigorate
Telecommunications Networks
Parama Networks introduced a complete system level solution for the design
of
next generation SONET/SDH transport equipment. The solution includes Parama's
groundbreaking ADM-on-a-Chip, a companion SONET/SDH Overhead Processor, a Data
Transport Processor, a Hardware Reference Design, and an Advanced Software
Development Kit.
The core of this solution is the ADM-on-a-Chip, an innovative "system on a
chip" (SoC) that features the highest level of integration to date and an
elegant architecture that simplifies the equipment design process. The ADM-
on-a-Chip offers -- for the first time on a single piece of silicon -- all of
the functions necessary to build an ADM and other next generation network
equipment, including cross-connect, line and tributary framers, and overhead
processing.
As a result, the ADM-on-a-Chip allows network equipment vendors to upgrade
existing systems and build entirely new systems that cost one-third the price
of and consume one-fifth the power of currently available systems. Due to the
high level of integrated functionality, an ADM-on-a-Chip-based complete system
level solution can be developed in one-fifth the time, again compared to
currently available products, thus allowing quick time to market and improved
return on investment. As such, the ADM-on-a-Chip will offer a powerful
economic incentive to service providers to reinvest in their networks, as part
of the evolution of SONET and SDH networks into the "convergence" transport
networks needed to efficiently transport data and traditional voice
traffic.
"Service providers are looking for ways to cost-effectively and quickly
leverage their SONET networks to deliver next generation managed data
services. Parama's ADM-on-a-Chip aggressively addresses this problem, with
benefits expected for both legacy and emerging next generation network
elements," said Dean Casey, former Director of Optical Transport Network
Architecture for Verizon.
"Given the improving economic indicators in telecommunications, in general,
and the market discontinuity between legacy and next-generation ADM systems,
in particular, we are launching our product at an opportune moment" said
Hemant Bheda, CEO of Parama Networks. "Furthermore, our product addresses the
most critical concern of our customers, as the cost of ADMs and similar
network devices are now dominated by electronics, not optics. With worldwide
sales of ADMs alone reaching $3 billion in 2003, we have a huge market
opportunity and we are well-positioned to fully participate in the coming wave
of capital spending."
Traditional merchant silicon providers typically design "building block"
ASICs
that can be combined by systems vendors into elements, line cards, and
subsystems. These silicon providers lack the overall system knowledge required
to define a complete SoC solution that would meet service provider's
requirements.
The Parama team, however, has been able to achieve this feat of engineering
as
a result of their unique blend of systems level and chip design experience,
including a SoC methodology with "first pass silicon to production" success.
Advances in silicon VLSI technology over the last few years, combined with a
patent-pending compact cross connect implementation, now enable entire ADM
implementations on a single piece of silicon, which create dramatic reductions
in cost and power while providing scalability, flexibility, density and
simplicity in building the next generation of data aware SONET and SDH
systems.
The ADM-on-a-Chip is manufactured in 0.13 micron CMOS process and packaged
in
a 1521 pin flip chip BGA package. Model number PNI8040, priced at $1250 in
1000+ quantities, features eight software-programmable OC-3 to OC-48 rate
SONET and SDH-equivalent rate ports, two OC-192 rate SONET/SDH ports and 40G
of digital cross connect capacity. PNI8160, priced at $2500 in 1000+
quantities, integrates eight software programmable OC-3 to OC-192 rate
SONET/SDH ports, two OC-768 rate SONET/SDH ports and 160G of digital cross
connect. Production samples of the ADM-on-a-Chip are available now.
"The ADM-on-a-Chip is a revolutionary technology for an evolutionary
market,"
continued Bheda. "SONET and SDH networks are well-established the world over
and have performed well; but they need to evolve in order to meet future
requirements, such as services based on Internet, Ethernet and storage
protocols and true 50ms restoration in mesh networks."
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