Agilent Picks Marvell PHY Chip

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Marvell(R) (NASDAQ: MRVL), a technology leader in the development of extreme broadband communications and storage solutions, today announced that Agilent Technologies' HBCU-5710R Small-Form Factor Pluggable module (SFP) is powered by Marvell's industry-leading Alaska(R) Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer technology. The new SFP module simplifies network design and accelerates the deployment of Gigabit Ethernet by enabling tri-speed capability and Virtual Cable Tester(TM) diagnostics functionality.

Traditionally SFPs were fiber only connections, limiting an IT manager's ability to utilize all of the available network ports. Marvell's innovative Gigabit solutions solve the problem by enabling copper capability in GBIC and SFP modules. End users can now benefit from a new level of flexibility with Agilent's HBCU-5710R module that supports copper connections and automatic speed selection for 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet.

"The close collaboration between Agilent and Marvell has resulted in a feature rich SFP module for the Ethernet market," stated Tom Fawcett, Worldwide Marketing Manager for Agilent's Fiber Optic Products Division. "The Marvell Alaska device uniquely addresses the space and power constraints of the SFP module, and provides innovative features, such as Virtual Cable Tester cable diagnostics."

"Agilent's leadership in pluggable modules combined with Marvell's leadership in physical layer ICs, have resulted in superior, value-add SFP solutions," stated Kamal Dalmia, Director of Product Marketing for Marvell's Connectivity Business Unit. "Marvell's Alaska device is the industry's only Gigabit PHY to meet the stringent demands of the SFP application, in addition to offering first-to-market features, such as tri-speed operation and VCT cable diagnostics."

The Agilent SFP also features Marvell's innovative Virtual Cable Tester(TM) (VCT) cable diagnostic technology which enables IT managers and end-users to quickly and remotely analyze the quality and attributes of the attached cable plant, helping pinpoint the cause of network cable malfunctions without deploying field support personnel or bringing down the network. VCT allows for a significant reduction in installation time, cable debug efforts and overall network support costs.

"Gigabit Ethernet has already surpassed Fast Ethernet for corporate client connectivity. With the next generation SFP solutions, Marvell is now accelerating the transition to Gigabit Ethernet in the network infrastructure," concluded Dalmia.

Agilent Technologies Inc.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.