Parama Expands ADM-Chip Idea

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Parama Networks today introduced the PNI8010, the latest “system on a chip” device in their patented ADM-on-a-Chip (AoC) family. Parama’s AoC is transforming SONET and SDH networking by placing all the functions of a full-featured add/drop multiplexer (ADM) on a single CMOS IC. Complementing the previously introduced PNI8040 and PNI8160 AoCs, the new device incorporates eight programmable tributary interfaces to run at OC-3/12 or STM-1/4 rates, two OC-48/STM-16 line interfaces, and 10 G of non-blocking cross-connect. Like the other members of the family, the device is extremely power efficient, drawing less than 4 watts.

Parama developed the AoC to assist the telecomm OEM (“original equipment manufacturer”) community with the urgent task of developing highly efficient and lower-cost equipment for “next-generation” SONET or SDH services (e.g., “packet over SONET”), multi-service provisioning platform (MSPP), and multi-service transport platform (MSTP) applications.

"Our goal is to commoditize the transport network silicon," said Hemant Bheda, CEO of Parama Networks. "The PNI8010 is the latest in a planned string of product announcements in pursuit of that goal. This chip brings us a step closer to enabling the ‘$5000 ADM’ that we discussed at Supercomm. Our network equipment customers are counting on us to drive cost out of the network equipment so that they can compete effectively in next-gen SONET/SDH equipment deployments, and in hotly contested growth markets such as India and China."

"The ADM-on-a-Chip is an impressive achievement and the new 8010 will help ADM manufacturers build metro edge and core products. It is a natural complement to Parama's higher-capacity ADM-on-a-Chip products introduced earlier," said Michael Howard, Principal Analyst and Co-Founder of Infonetics Research. "I am impressed that, in addition to fully-compliant SONET and SDH functionality, the centralized architecture supports 50 msec mesh restoration and per-service protection for efficient data transport."

---In a separate release---

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Parama Networks announced today a new centralized architecture for SONET/SDH Add/Drop Multiplexers. In conjunction with Parama's ADM-on-a-Chip (AoC) family, the simplified architecture will enable network equipment manufacturers to centralize the framing, cross connect and overhead processing functions of SONET and SDH. This allows vendors to streamline their product architectures, and reduce their parts count, resulting in lower cost and higher performance network elements.

While fully compliant with SONET/SDH standards, the new AoC-based architecture extends that functionality to enable the transition to next generation transport systems for efficient transport of data services and improved network management features. In fact, the centralized architecture uniquely enables 50ms restoration in mesh networks, per service protection schemes, and transparent transport services. It also allows vendors to tap the bandwidth in the “overhead” channels for signaling and control purposes throughout the network.

With the centralized architecture and Parama’s landmark “ADM-on-a-Chip,” manufacturers of SONET and SDH equipment can create extremely cost-effective designs that bring new levels of flexibility, features, and performance to their service provider customers.

Parama Networks Inc.