Conexant Unveils 10 Gbps Interconnect Device to Ease Internet Bandwidth Bottleneck

Strategic Insights -

Conexant Systems, Inc. has introduced a new 10 Gbps interconnect device that significantly reduces the cost of adding equipment at central-office, point-of-presence, and portal sites. The CX29900 very short reach (VSR) converter supports the proposed 10 Gbps VSR interface standard, which uses parallel optics to provide a more economical alternative to serial-optical links for building the broader, higher-speed data pipes required to meet today's escalating bandwidth demands. This solution is gaining momentum as a key solution for today's Internet upgrade challenge, with Conexant already sampling the device to leading networking and telecommunications equipment manufacturers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Conexant has developed a 10 Gbps interconnect device that reduces the cost of adding equipment at central-office, point-of-presence, and portal sites by leveraging parallel optics and existing Gigabit Ethernet technology.
  • The CX29900 VSR converter supports the proposed 10 Gbps VSR interface standard and is expected to satisfy 10 Gbps OC-192 bandwidth demand and set the stage for migrating to 40 Gbps OC-768 capabilities using the same technology.
  • The device is being manufactured in a 0.18-micron complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process and includes a highly integrated encoder, as well as serialization/deserialization (SerDes) and clock data recovery (CDR) circuitry.
  • Conexant's VSR technology has been included in a Cisco 12000 Series Internet router in the industry's first public demonstration of 10 Gbps (OC-192) VSR interconnects.
  • The CX29900 VSRC device is priced at $175 each in 1,000-unit quantities and will enter volume production in the first quarter of 2001.

Statistics:

  • 275 meters is the maximum distance for VSR links as specified by the IETF.
  • 10 Gbps is the bandwidth supported by the CX29900 VSR converter.
  • 4 times the bandwidth is achieved by the CX29900 VSRC device compared to a 2.5 Gbps OC-48 interface at the same size and power consumption.
  • 12 channels transmit SONET framed data in a serial round-robin approach at 1.25 Gbps.
  • 300 meters is the maximum length for the parallel optical fiber cable used with the CX29900 VSRC device.

Sources:

  • Business Wire (September 25, 2000)
  • Conexant Systems, Inc. press release