Teknovus EPON chips power world's first triple-play EPON network.

Teknovus, a provider of semiconductors for broadband optical access networks, today announced that its TK3700-series Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) chipset is being used in KDDI's Hikari-Plus Home Fiber To-The-Home (FTTH) service. KDDI, one of Japan's largest service providers, is using Teknovus-powered equipment to build a nationwide network that will deliver premium-grade triple-play services--voice, video, and data--to residential customers.

Dr. Rex Naden, CEO of Teknovus, offered this assessment: "Japan is leading the world in deployment of FTTH. KDDI is the first example of a top-tier Japanese service provider using EPON to offer high-end voice, data, and video residential services that compete directly with cable-, DSL-, and satellite-based networks. We are honored that KDDI has recognized the unique price/performance value of the Teknovus EPON solution, and has specified the use of products containing our chips in their FTTH access network."

Mr. Shigeo Morita, Senior Manager of KDDI's Broadband Engineering Department, stated, "When we examined the architectural alternatives, it was clear that multi-service EPON was the only choice for our next-generation access network. To compete in the Japanese market we must provide ultra-high-quality services, including copper-grade VoIP, advanced video services, and QoS-aware data services. At the same time, an EPON system must compete on cost with other broadband platforms, such as DSL. After testing and researching our alternatives, it was clear that Teknovus has the best EPON chipset that meets our requirements and is ready for deployment."

Teknovus has shipped more than one million EPON ports to more than twenty original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Asia, North America, and Europe, with sales on a dramatic, annual upward trend. "We have developed the only proven, fourth-generation EPON technology, with the most advanced features, the highest performance, and the lowest cost in the market," stated Dr. Lowell Lamb, Vice President of Marketing for Teknovus. "An EPON chipset must satisfy the high demands of the FTTH market, delivering multi-service capability at low cost, as well enabling easy and quick designs for the system manufacturers. The Teknovus TK3700-series EPON chipset meets these criteria."

Using the TK3700-series, typical prototype design cycles are running at four weeks for the single-chip, residential Optical Network Units (ONUs) and eight weeks for the central office Optical Line Terminals. Teknovus customers are putting operational systems into the laboratories of service providers less than three months after starting design. This streamlined design cycle has reduced the EPON system development time by more than 60 percent, when compared to designs based on older EPON technology.