Broadcom Launches 10G EPON

Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM) announced what it claims is the first 10Gbit/s EPON chip on the market (aside from Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementations), the BCM55030. It's a system-on-a-chip for optical networking units (ONUs), targeting multidwelling units and Long Term Evolution (LTE) backhaul. The chip is sampling now, with production volumes expected in the second quarter.

Why this matters
Broadcom becomes the first chip vendor to stake a claim on the 10Gbit/s EPON market. It's a sign that the entrance of Broadcom and Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: MRVL) will be a serious challenge for PON-chip competition.

Other players such as BroadLight Inc. , Cortina Systems Inc. and PMC-Sierra Inc. (Nasdaq: PMCS) have been in the PON market longer, but Broadcom and Marvell gain some benefits from being giants. For example, Broadcom's relationships with foundries will help expedite development of the BCM55030, which was originally designed by Teknovus, a Broadcom acquisition, says Chris Moezzi, Broadcom senior director of product marketing.

For more
Here's what's been going on with Broadcom, Marvell and 10Gbit/s EPON.

• Broadcom Intros 10G EPON Chip
• Broadcom Goes With GPON Gateway
• Broadcom Targets China
• BBWF 2010: 10G GPON Hits Europe
• Broadcom Does GPON Gateway SoC
• No Sure Bets in NG PONs
• CommunicAsia 2010: ZTE Overtakes AlcaLu in Broadband Battle
• MSO Taps ZTE for 10G EPON Test
• Hitachi Announces 10G EPON
• Anritsu, Mindspeed Show 10G EPON
• Broadcom to Acquire Teknovus
• Marvell Jumps Into PON
• Rumor: Teknovus Gets Eyed, Marvell Gets GPON

— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading