Conexant and Cisco Collaborate on Low-Cost Gigabit Switch Router Interface

Strategic Insights -

Conexant Systems, Inc. and Cisco Systems have collaborated to develop a new low-cost interface for interconnecting co-located Gigabit Switch Router (GSR) networking equipment at 9.952 Gbps (OC-192) data rates. This technology, known as Very Short Reach (VSR), will significantly reduce customers' capital costs for deploying high-speed interconnections in point of presence (POP), central office (CO) and portal sites.

Key Takeaways:

  • The VSR interface will support interconnections up to 400 meters and is designed for co-located network equipment in POPs, COs, and portal environments.
  • The technology is expected to reduce customers' capital costs by a significant amount, as current serial optic links cost many thousands of dollars.
  • According to market estimates, 80 percent of all interconnects deployed in these environments are less than 400 meters long.
  • The VSR interface will enable the creation of 10 Gbps interconnect links for a significantly lower cost.
  • Conexant's expertise in designing silicon for high-speed optical internetworking products provided key technology for developing and driving an interface standard to support next-generation, gigabit IP-to-optical network infrastructures.
  • The VSR specification was presented at the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) meeting on October 19, 1999, and was co-authored by 14 industry-wide service providers, manufacturers, and component suppliers.
  • Conexant plans to release products supporting the VSR specification during the first half of 2000.
  • The VSR technology has the potential to enable customers to migrate their network infrastructures to 10 Gbps pipes at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.

Statistics:

  • 80 percent of all interconnects deployed in POPs, COs, and portal environments are less than 400 meters long.
  • The VSR technology will support interconnections up to 400 meters.
  • Current serial optic links cost many thousands of dollars.
  • Conexant's revenues reached approximately $1.5 billion.

Sources:

  • BUSINESS WIRE, November 10, 1999
  • Conexant Systems, Inc.
  • Cisco Systems
  • Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF)
  • Nasdaq-100 Index