PMC-Sierra Introduces Industry's Highest Capacity Single-Chip Solution for Optical Access Aggregation.

ARROW 2488 Delivers Unprecedented Integration for Next Generation Optical Transport, While Meeting the Scalability Requirements Carriers Demand

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS) today introduced the PM5336 ARROW 2488, a feature-rich, high capacity single-chip solution, which combines multi-rate SONET/SDH framers, non-blocking STS/AU and VT/TU cross-connect, and best-in-class backplane SERDES for next generation compact and scalable chassis-based SONET/SDH platforms. Carriers are driving the adoption of converged networks to more effectively manage both new Ethernet services and existing T1/E1 services over the established SONET/SDH infrastructure. To meet these requirements, OEMs must deliver highly integrated, scalable metro transport solutions with reduced power, cost and complexity. The ARROW 2488 enables system OEMs to build carrier grade optical access aggregation equipment with unprecedented footprint and power savings compared to available silicon solutions. This highly integrated solution is the newest software compatible addition to PMC-Sierra's successful CHESS(TM) III and CHESS[TM] Wideband family of SONET/SDH products. The ARROW 2488:

* Optimizes compact OC-48/STM-16 Multiservice Provisioning Platforms (MSPPs), while allowing scalability to multi-port OC-192/STM-64 applications;

* Addresses optical add/drop requirements for packet MSPPs and Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs);

* Integrates field-proven CHESS intellectual property, reducing development cycles for faster time to market through the reuse of CHESS software base;

* Reduces chip count by up to 80 percent compared with available alternatives, dramatically improving bill of materials costs and reducing real estate requirements; and

* Exceeds the requirement for 50 msec protection switching for up to 5376 tributaries using a fully hardware-based APS algorithm (MAPS[TM]).

"We continue our investment in critical technologies that enable the carriers' migration to converged networks that are able to move IP traffic through SONET/SDH backbones," said Dino Bekis, vice president of marketing and applications for PMC-Sierra's Communication Products Division. "As bandwidth demand increases rapidly due to roll out of quad-play service, SONET/SDH remains the carriers' choice to deliver performance and reliability in the metro network. We optimized the ARROW 2488 for OC-48/STM-16 applications, while allowing scalability to OC-192/STM-64, enabling SONET/SDH to remain the most competitive transport technology and allowing carriers to address network scalability with existing infrastructure."

Leading metro transport equipment manufacturers are deploying PMC-Sierra's CHESS portfolio today in live networks.

"PMC-Sierra's ARROW 2488, together with the CHESS family, are integral components in our cost-optimized SONET/SDH systems," said Jay Fahey, director of product development at Lucent Technologies. "PMC-Sierra has demonstrated that they understand our needs. By delivering a robust solution that allows us to leverage existing platform designs, PMC-Sierra is reducing our development cost and accelerating our time to market."

Flexibility Advantage

The ARROW 2488 provides system designers with a device that can be adopted across several applications and architectures:

* Multiport OC-48/STM-16 single-chip solution for compact (pizza-box) MSPPs (see Figure 1);

* High fan-in, multi-rate SONET/SDH front-end for line cards for MSPPs, packet MSPPs, and ROADMs (see Figures 2 and 3); and

* Centralized high-order and/or low-order cross-connect and pointer processor, with optional optical network interfaces, for chassis-based platforms (see Figure 4).

Integrating Advanced Features for SONET/SDH

The ARROW 2488 integrates multirate SONET/SDH framers and on-chip line side SERDES with full section, line and high-order path processors. The device integrates a high capacity non-blocking, memory-based, high-order STS/AU cross-connect, low-order VT/TU path processors, and a non-blocking memory-based low-order cross-connect. The integrated VT/TU grooming enables low order ring protection and allows the ARROW 2488 to aggregate both new Ethernet services as well as T1/E1/DS3/E3 services. The ARROW 2488 supports all network protection schemes, including UPSR/SNCP, BLSR/MS-SPRING, 1+1, and 1:n. Both the integrated low-order cross connect and high-order cross-connect support Message Assisted Protection Switching (MAPS(TM)), a mechanism that allows standards-based protection switching without software intervention, enabling full protection of highly channelized rings without the addition of a high cost co-processor. The ARROW 2488 also provides extensive performance monitoring, intermediate path monitoring and reporting capabilities on all virtual tributaries and SPE signals.

Superior System Expansion and Scalability

The ARROW 2488 provides a system-side interface consisting of ESSI serial links (2.488Gb/s or 622Mb/s) and a 2.5G Parallel Telecombus interface (32x77MHz) for the industry's most flexible inter-card or intra-card connectivity to cross-connects, framers and mappers. All serial links utilize PMC-Sierra's Rate Agile Serial I/O (RASIO(TM)) best-in-class high-speed serial backplane technology.

Reduced Development Costs and Rapid Time-to-Market

The ARROW 2488 integrates core IP from several discrete CHESS III and CHESS WB products into a solution with an optimal feature set and bandwidth for medium-capacity MSPPs, packet MSPPs and ROADMs. The resultant software compatibility with existing CHESS products, combined with a comprehensive reference platform ensures a shorter development cycle for the OEM or ODM.

Pricing, Availability, and Customer Support

The PM5336 ARROW 2488 will be sampling in Q1 2007. The device is designed in 90nm CMOS technology and packaged in an 1152-ball 35x35mm Flip Chip Ball Grid Array Package. A comprehensive support product package including hardware specification, application notes, device models, reference design, and software is available. For more information about PMC-Sierra's broad family of metro transport solutions, visit www.pmc-sierra.com/networking. For documentation and pricing, contact a PMC-Sierra sales representative at www.pmc-sierra.com/contactSales/.

CHESS III and CHESS Wideband Product Portfolio

CHESS III is the foundation chip set used to build the new generation of metro transport equipment. It offers a range of STS-1/AU-3 cross-connect solutions as well as highly integrated framer solutions for MSPPs, packet MSPPs and ROADMs. The CHESS III family includes the PM5308 TSE 120, PM5377 TSE 240, PM5376 TSE Nx160, PM5324 ARROW 1x192 and PM5326 ARROW 2x192 products. The CHESS Wideband chip set is a high capacity VT/TU grooming solution portfolio that enables cost-effective in-service upgrades to [acute accent]MSPPs, MSPPs and Optical Cross-Connect systems. The CHESS Wideband family includes the PM5389 WSE 20, PM5370 WSE 40 and PM5369 TUPP 9953. For more information about PMC-Sierra's broad family of metro transport solutions, visit www.pmc-sierra.com/networking. For documentation and pricing, contact a PMC-Sierra sales representative at www.pmc-sierra.com/contactSales/.

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: Compact MSPP 

Figure 2: Medium-Capacity MSPP

Figure 3: Packet MSPP Line Card

Figure 4: ADM-on-a-Wavelength ROADM Card

For figures visit: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/pdf/ARROW2488_figures.pdf

For photos visit: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/images/ARROW_2488.jpg

Resources to Extend Your Product Knowledge and Understanding

PMC-Sierra Networking Products www.pmc-sierra.com/networking

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

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

PMC-Sierra White Papers www.pmc-sierra.com/whitepaper

[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" CHESS, MAPS and RASIO are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.