PMC-Sierra Offers VDSL2 ChipPMC-Sierra Offers VDSL2 Chip

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS - News) today introduced the PM4380 Analog Front End (AFE) for VDSL2 and ADSL2+ Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The highly integrated CMOS device is a stand-alone VDSL2 AFE, enabling Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to quickly bring to market VDSL2 modem or residential gateway products. VDSL2 technology allows Service Providers to offer significantly faster and more robust broadband connections to support the deployment of IPTV and other advanced IP services.

By tackling the difficult mixed-signal challenges inherent to the design of such an AFE, PMC-Sierra enables new entrants into the rapidly expanding VDSL2 CPE market. The AFE features:

The PM4380 integrates a high-performance 5V line driver and offers extremely low transmit path distortion and noise floor. The receive path, including the integrated ultra-low noise amplifier, provides an input-referred noise density of -150dBm/Hz, while high-precision 16-bit data converters offer best-in-class performance on both receive and transmit chains. The low transmit and receive noise floors, combined with high-resolution data converters and integrated programmable receive equalizer and filters, reduce the need for complex and costly external filters to achieve optimum rate/reach performance. In addition, the device integrates a 16-bit digitally controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO) that provides better than 0.02 ppm frequency resolution, and an optional 1.8V regulator that allows the PM4380 to be used in a system that only provides 3.3V and 5V. By offering this leading-edge performance, the PM4380 device enables OEMs to deliver products that provide faster broadband connections over longer loop lengths.

"PMC-Sierra has a strong history in developing leading-edge mixed-signal CMOS products for communications applications, and we have capitalized on this expertise to bring to market a leading-edge family of robust DSL AFEs," said Dino Bekis, vice president of marketing and applications for PMC-Sierra's Communication Products Division. "Together with our recently announced MSP7100 Multi-Service Processor® family, we are delivering breakthrough-performance semiconductor solutions for the delivery of IPTV and other advanced IP services over broadband."

PMC-Sierra Inc. (Nasdaq: PMCS)