Vitesse Raises the Level of Integration for OC-48 SONET Compliant Devices.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2000

Introduces Industry's Smallest and Lowest Power Packet/ATM over

SONET Framer with Transceiver, CMU and CDR functions

Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:VTSS) today introduced the VSC9142, an OC-48c Packet/ATM over SONET framing device that integrates all the physical layer functions of serial clock and data recovery, clock generation and multiplication and multiplexing/demultiplexing between serial and parallel datapaths into a device optimized to process and map packet and ATM cells into an OC-48c datastream.

This highly integrated device is ideal for high-speed data networking equipment such as core and edge routers, ATM switches and multi-service (ATM/IP/Ethernet) switches requiring SONET-quality links between two nodes.

The high level of integration of the VSC9142 enables hardware design engineers to use a single device instead of the two or three ICs that have been required in the past. Because it uses 0.18 micron CMOS technology and dissipates a mere 2.5W, the VSC9142 significantly reduces the board space required, complexity of design, board level power dissipation and improves time to market.

"The VSC9142 raises the level of integration for OC-48 system designers and exemplifies our directive of providing more functionality on a single IC, while simultaneously lowering power requirements," stated Gregg Borodaty, director, telecom marketing at Vitesse.

"The VSC9142 provides SONET quality OC-48 integrated PHY layer interface with hundreds of thousands of gates and dissipates less than half the power of previous solutions.

"Customers rely on us to continue to provide a high level of integration with our new OC-48 products as well as seamless connections to network processors from Vitesse's Advanced Network Products Division," continued Borodaty. "With this device, we are enabling our roadmap to integrate the PHY, framer and network processor functions -- the 'future' is here now."

The VSC9142 provides full Section/Line/Path processing and termination of the OC-48c datastream and provides the user with programmable overhead access ports configurable to extract/insert specific bytes, status information or the entire SONET transport overhead bytes for supporting Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) applications.

In addition, complete performance counters and monitoring functions are integrated in the device. The serial physical layer front end of the VSC9142 complies with all SONET Bellcore GR-253 jitter requirements and provides a power-down mode along with an OIF compliant 4-bit LVDS interface and synchronization platform for OC-192 applications.

This multi-mode device is targeted for ATM/Packet/Ethernet over SONET applications. Its highly programmable HDLC-like encapsulation allows the additional flexibility of implementing emerging protocols such ITU-T X.85/Y.1321 for IP/Ethernet over LAPS and other proprietary packet-based protocols.

The feature-rich VSC9142 contains an extensive set of performance counters and monitoring capabilities, such as error-marking, packet discarding and label-filtering, that provides the user with additional tools for advanced applications, such as tester quality functions.

An additional mode of the VSC9142 allows the user to encapsulate any type of data, such as video and encryption applications, into the SONET payload.

The VSC9142 ensures interoperability across multi-vendor link layer devices through its industry-compliant UTOPIA Level 3 and POS-PHY Level 3 system interfaces. Coupled with Vitesse's family of network processors, traffic managers and switching fabric devices, entire line card solutions from fiber to switch are easily realized.

This 1.8/3.3V IC is provided in a 25mm, 320 pin TBGA and is priced at $325 in quantities of 1,000. Samples will be available in July, with production quantities in the last quarter of this year.

Vitesse Semiconductor is the leading designer and supplier of innovative, high-performance semiconductors utilizing state-of-the-art processes -- for the communications equipment manufacturers of next-generation DWDM and optical networking, as well as storage area networking ICs and enclosure management products that monitor and communicate critical reliability and availability information.

The company's products address the needs of Core, Access, Optical and Enterprise network equipment manufacturers who demand a combination of high speed, high complexity and low power dissipation.

Vitesse has headquarters in Camarillo, and manufactures volume ICs at its two fabrication facilities in Camarillo and Colorado Springs, Colo.

Company/product information can be found on the Web at www.vitesse.com.