PMC-Sierra Successfully Demonstrates Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH Interoperability For Metro Ethernet Networks.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS) today announced the completion of extensive interoperability testing of its PM5329 ARROW 24xFE and PM5333 ARROW 8xFE Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH (EoS) mappers in multi-vendor environments and with Agilent Technologies' OmniBER OTN J7232A 2.5 Gbit/s analyzer. PMC-Sierra's proven interoperability testing for metro Ethernet transport services including Add/Drop Multiplexers (ADM) and Multi-Service Provisioning Platforms (MSPP) provide design engineers with increased reliability and reduced development costs.

Ethernet Services Providing New Revenue Streams for Carriers

Enabling the existing SONET/SDH infrastructure to address market demands for cost-effective and higher rate services are the key drivers for the deployment of carrier-class Ethernet in metro networks. With the solidification of the next-generation SONET/SDH standards, along with availability of Ethernet to SONET/SDH mapping devices, carriers are actively rolling out Ethernet services.

"For SBC, offering standards-compliant private-line Ethernet services directly within SONET payloads addresses the growing demand for scalable, cost-effective enterprise LAN/WAN interconnection in replacement of traditional lower rate access technologies like T1/E1," said George Young, principal member of technical staff at SBC Communications.

Driving Industry-wide Standards and Protocols

PMC-Sierra has been working closely with Agilent Technologies and other partners to enable multi-vendor interoperability testing for a number of carriers. With the completion of standards for Virtual Concatenation (VCAT), Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS) and Generic Framing Procedure (GFP), OEMs are relying on communication IC vendors to provide standards-based products.

"PMC-Sierra has been active in driving the Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH standards and ensuring their product portfolio supports the latest ITU and IEEE specifications," said Steve Gorshe, editor of GFP Standard (ITU-G.7041), Ethernet Private Line Service Standard (ITU G.8011.1) and principal engineer, R&D at PMC-Sierra.

"With PMC-Sierra's drive for a fully compliant standards-based portfolio, enabled by Agilent's next-generation SONET/SDH capable testing equipment, MSPP vendors are now able to provide interoperable products to carriers," said Ronnie Neil, marketing programs manager, Data Networks Division at Agilent Technologies.

"We are pleased to see an industry-wide adoption of our 10/100 Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH products," said Babak Samimi, product marketing manager, Service Provider Division at PMC-Sierra. "Our conformance to these new industry standards, along with proven interoperability across different vendor platforms, is a significant milestone for PMC-Sierra."

Offering a Broad Portfolio of Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH Products

PMC-Sierra's ARROW 8xFE and ARROW 24xFE products are 622 Mbit/s and 2.5 Gbit/s capacity devices supporting both low order (VT1.5/VC-12) and high order (STS-1/VC-3, STS-3c/VC-4) Virtual Concatenation with hitless bandwidth adjustments using fully integrated LCAS processing. Fine granularity bandwidth tuning with low order Virtual Concatenation (1.6 Mbit/s VT1.5 / 2 Mbit/s VC-12) enables delivery of customer tailored 10/100 Ethernet services while maintaining network efficiency. For network efficient 1000 Mbit/s Ethernet services, PMC-Sierra's ARROW 2xGE device enables Gigabit Ethernet users to benefit from high order Virtual Concatenation and provide transport services from 50 Mbit/s all the way up to a full 1 Gbit/s with 50 Mbit/s (STS-1/VC-3) increments. For more information, visit www.pmc-sierra.com/networking.

About PMC-Sierra

PMC-Sierra(TM) is a leading provider of high-speed broadband communications and storage semiconductors and MIPS-based(TM) processors for Enterprise, Access, Metro Optical Transport, Storage Area Networking and Wireless network equipment. The company offers worldwide technical and sales support, including a network of offices throughout North America, Europe 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.

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(C) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2004. All rights reserved. PMC, PMCS, PMC-Sierra, and "Thinking You can Build On" are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.