Vitesse Ethernet Switches Deliver Network Timing Solution For Wireless Backhaul And Carrier Access Applications

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE). Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, a leading provider of advanced IC solutions for Carrier and Enterprise networks, today announced its Caracal family of Ethernet switches (VSC7428, VSC7429) for Carrier Ethernet, mobile backhaul and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTx) Passive Optical Networks (PON) applications. Part of Vitesse's scalable family of Carrier Ethernet ICs, Caracal switches feature network timing and performance monitoring capabilities that are essential for migrating mobile backhaul or packet-based 3G and 4G wireless networks.

Previously, wireless networks depended on T1/E1 circuits for providing network connections. With the deployment of advanced 3G and 4G networks that offer more data services, greater bandwidth is driving an industry trend toward packet-based networks. These packet-based networks satisfy the need for greater bandwidth, but must also replace the timing, management and resiliency features of legacy SONET/SDH systems. With Vitesse's Caracal Carrier Ethernet family of switches, packet-based networks for wireless backhaul can now replace aging and inadequate TDM networks.

"Two of the fastest growing segments in carrier networks are mobile/wireless backhaul and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) access networks. Mobile operators have a capacity crisis on their hands due to mobile broadband data cards and the first generation of smartphones, especially the iPhone. Mobile backhaul equipment must not only evolve from TDM connections to Ethernet, but also add service aware QoS, packet timing and synchronization functions," stated Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics Research. "At the same time, they must lower power consumption, while increasing equipment density and bandwidth. Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)/PON networks face similar constraints. This is where Vitesse's Caracal family of Carrier Ethernet switches is targeted."

As with the Jaguar and LynX products introduced earlier this year, Vitesse's Caracal switches provide a rich set of Carrier Ethernet features. All Vitesse Carrier Ethernet switches boast a unique MEF services-oriented hardware and software architecture that dramatically lowers software development costs and accelerates time-to-market. Precise network timing over packet networks is an essential requirement for the operation of wireless networks while packet networks provide the necessary increase in bandwidth critical to 3G and 4G mobile networks. The Caracal family implements both Synchronous Ethernet and the one step and two step modes of IEEE 1588v2 in hardware for superior timing precision.

Equally important is Caracal's integrated support for Ethernet Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM), including full hardware-based Continuity Check Messages. This support provides protection switching in less than 50ms - the same rapid-failover rate used in today's wireline SONET/SDH standards. These features, combined with Vitesse's comprehensive Carrier Ethernet software solutions, uniquely enable a smooth migration to packet networks from currently deployed SONET/SDH networks.Offering the highest level of integration in the industry, the Caracal devices are fully featured Carrier Ethernet switches with integrated Cu PHYs and MIPS processor. The integrated dual media PHY enables a simple hardware design with flexible combination of copper and optical ports. The MIPS processor can run customer management and control software while delivering a warm restart capability that allows network providers to reload software and reboot the switch without interrupting customer service.

The new devices embed Vitesse's EcoEthernet 2.0 green technology, exceeding the IEEE 802.3az specifications requirements while delivering unprecedented energy efficiency. Power dissipation of 365 mW/port for 1000BASE-T copper and <200 mW/port is achieved when connected to Fast Ethernet devices, making Caracal switches the most fully featured, low-power Carrier Ethernet solution for mobile backhaul and access applications.

The VSC7428 (Caracal-1) provides up to 11 SGMII ports and eight Gigabit Cu PHYs, while the VSC7429 (Caracal-2) provides 26-ports with combinations of 12 copper PHYs, 12 SGMII, and three QSMII ports. Both devices have 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, with two ports supporting 10/100/1000 and 2.5 Gbps. All SGMII ports support 100 BASE-FX and 1000 BASE-X SerDes for direct attach optical connections. Overall, Caracal switches offer rich carrier features including 1588v2 timing and a high level of integration and support for redundant network and ring configurations, making Vitesse's latest offering uniquely suited for Carrier access applications such as base station interconnect, mobile backhaul and PON MDU. Samples of the VSC7428 and VSC7429 will be generally available in the third quarter of calendar 2010. More information about the Caracal devices: Caracal-1   Caracal-2 .