SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS - News), the premier Internet infrastructure semiconductor solution provider, today announced the industry’s first pluggable GPON Optical Network Terminal (ONT) reference design that can connect any Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) equipped with a standard Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) port to a high-speed Passive Optical Network. The low-power, plug-and-play ONT allows carriers and system vendors to upgrade existing service-oriented home and small/medium business equipment, including gateways, routers, and integrated access devices, to full GPON functionality without hardware or software redesign. This eliminates the need for carriers and service providers to deploy new CPE when introducing advanced fiber-based services. The pluggable ONT, which is based on PMC-Sierra’s GPON SoC for mini-ONT applications, is powered by standard interfaces in the host device and does not require a dedicated power supply. This new design will be demonstrated at Optinet China in Beijing, May 26 - 27, 2010.

“FTTH networks have passed the initial adoption stage and service providers are looking for innovative ways to connect existing customers and equipment to Passive Optical Networks for advanced services at faster speeds. In addition, multiple regulators require demarcation between CPE and carrier-provided PON ONTs,” said Raphael Sankar, vice president and co-general manager of PMC-Sierra’s FTTH Division. “PMC-Sierra’s pluggable ONT reference design enables OEMs and ODMs to easily and cost-effectively add PON connectivity to existing customer premises equipment using standard interfaces without any hardware or software redesign.”

PMC-Sierra Inc. (Nasdaq: PMCS)