Mitel's New Packet Processor for Broadband Networks Delivers Industry's Highest Density.

Business Editors

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2001

MITEL (NYSE:MLT)(TSE:MLT.) (LSE:MLT.L)

* ATM Adaptation Layer Type 2 (AAL2) SAR supports 1023 active CIDs (AAL2 Channel Identifiers) and 1023 active Virtual Channel Connections (VCCs)

* Two cascaded SAR devices provide full SONET-155 Mbits/s capacity in VoDSL and 3G cellular equipment

Mitel Semiconductor, a division of Mitel Corporation (NYSE:MLT)(TSE:MLT.), today announced availability of the world's highest density AAL2 segmentation and re-assembly (SAR) device. Called the MT90502, it simultaneously processes 1023 CIDs and 1023 VCCs, more than any device available on the market. The chip offers manufacturers a high-bandwidth solution for combined voice and data services in multi-service switching platforms, Third-Generation (3G) mobile system equipment, carrier-class gateways, Next Generation Digital Loop Carriers (NGDLC), and ATM edge switches.

The MT90502 is integral to Mitel's strategy of supporting the convergence of wireless and wired, packet-based and circuit-switched networks onto a single broadband infrastructure. This convergence places new challenges on manufacturers to produce equipment that meets the increased requirements for bandwidth, Quality of Service (QoS) and capacity on mixed voice, data and video networks.

The MT90502 AAL2 SAR receives constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) traffic from a TDM stream, and maps it to cells for transmission over ATM networks. For Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) applications, the MT90502 directly accepts Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM) traffic for packetization. The device also implements silence suppression and comfort noise generation for G.711 and G.726 data formats.

The device supports 1023 active CIDs and 1023 active VC connections and easily accommodates scalability and bandwidth requirements. When two MT90502 devices are cascaded, over 2000 phone call terminations can be processed. This is equivalent to three T3 links, or a full SONET link at 155 Mbits/s. The ability to achieve SONET density with only two SAR devices yields a substantial reduction in cost, power consumption and board space compared to other currently available solutions.

"The MT90502 AAL2 SAR supports Mitel's voice over packet initiative, which seeks to optimize the use of existing bandwidth and facilitate the convergence of voice, data and video on the same infrastructure," said Louise Gaulin, product line manager, Mitel Semiconductor. "The MT90502 combines silence suppression, comfort noise generation, latency minimization and clock recovery, delivering a SAR that provides customers with the highest bandwidth solution on the market."

High-density SAR optimizes CPU efficiency in broadband access equipment

The MT90502 AAL2 SAR supports both compressed and uncompressed voice. The device connects to commercially available DSPs through synchronous ports. Most other solutions consist of interfacing a SAR to a DSP through an asynchronous port. This requires interrupt service routines or polling mechanisms to establish transfers of information from the DSP to the AAL2 SAR, which loads the CPU. The MT90502 eliminates the load on the CPU by using a serial interface to the DSP that supports CBR and VBR traffic using HDLC encapsulation.

Traffic routing to three UTOPIA interfaces supports redundancy requirements

The device can route ATM cells to any one of the three UTOPIA interfaces, the microprocessor or the SAR engine. The ability to route traffic is optimal for SONET equipment, since it allows instantaneous redundancy support. The multiple UTOPIA interfaces also allow for cascading of multiple SAR devices, to increase AAL2 density, or to support AAL1 and AAL5 traffic.

Transition to AAL2 technology

AAL2 technology supports QoS, efficient use of existing bandwidth and convergence with real-time processing of traffic that is sensitive to delay, such as voice. To achieve toll-quality voice transmission in new integrated services, manufacturers are moving to AAL2 technology.

Pricing and availability

The MT90502 is currently sampling, supplied in a 456-pin BGA package. The device is priced at US $200.00 in quantities of 1,000 units. A reference design, an evaluation board, and device drivers are also available to ease system design.

About Mitel

Mitel Semiconductor specializes in connectivity solutions for the communications industry with a product range that includes components for both wired and wireless networks; microelectronics for enabling the convergence of voice and data; optoelectronic devices for high-speed Internet systems; and applications-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for medical applications such as pacemakers and hearing aids. For more information visit www.mitelsemi.com

Mitel is a global provider of semiconductors and communications systems for converging voice and data networks in a rapidly evolving Internet economy. The company has annual revenues of $1.4 billion and employs some 6,000 people worldwide. For more information visit www.mitel.com

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, among others, the risks discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are encouraged to consider the risks detailed in those filings.