Conexant Releases Fiber Optic Networking Devices

Electronic News, Feb 21, 2000 by Liz Neely

Conexant Systems Inc. this week unveiled its third fiber optic networking switch used for high-speed communications within cities. The Newport Beach, Calif.-based company also released a new family of semiconductor devices designed for the Internet and telephony infrastructure. Conexant's 34x34 high-isolation crosspoint switch is designed for high-congestion, 1.5Gbit/sec. OC-48 networks where power efficiency is critical, the company said. It includes three new companion CDR components, including a quad version that cuts the number of devices needed for internal signal clocking in high-port switching matrices. The switches are used in the company's new generation of OC-48 optical cross-connect systems. In the past, systems were based on the T3 switch hierarchy, however, expanding bandwidth requirements have forced the infrastructure to undergo an upgrade, the company said. OC-48 is replacing the T3 hierarchy and Conexant has aimed its new switches at the core of these new optical systems. The new switch follows a 3.2Gbit/sec. switch announced in September and a 10Gbit/sec. switch introduced in October. The new switch is aimed at systems where complex board layouts prohibit higher port switches, Conexant said.

Also introduced today is the company's new semiconductor family for 10Gbit/sec. fiber optic modules and networking equipment. Conexant said the devices are used in the expanding Internet and telephony infrastructure and are in support of synchronous optical network and synchronous digital hierarchy digital data transmission standards. The company's first generation of networking devices spans the range of amplifiers, transceivers and drivers required for end-to-end transmissions in the fiber optic backbone of high-speed, multiservice communications networks. The offering includes front-end transimpedance and limiting amplifiers, laser diode and laser modulator drivers, clock data recovery devices and parallel-to-serial and serial-to-parallel converters. The products complement the company's new crosspoint switches, Conexant said, adding it plans to expand its OC-192 offerings this year with a second generation of highly integrated, low-power devices.

Intel Invests $100M in Symbol Tech

Intel Corp. and SymbolTechnologies, a maker of wireless and Internet-based mobile data management systems and services, said this week they have struck a multi-year deal to create advanced wireless networking capabilities and products, particularly related to high-speed wireless local area networking (LAN). Intel also disclosed it will invest $100 million in the Holtsville, N.Y.-based company, which represents about 1.4 million shares or an ownership stake of about 1.5 percent. The agreement is still subject to customary regulations and closing conditions. Both companies said they will devote more than 200 silicon, hardware and software engineers to the project, as well as complementary teams of marketing and sales professionals, to develop wireless high-speed LAN technologies. The new technology will help mobile, handheld and desktop computers communicate with corporate networks and the Internet without requiring a direct wire connection.

Both companies said they will focus on developing silicon, adapter cards and "access points" (devices that serve as central base stations or gateways to wired networks) needed for wireless networking. Intel also said it will sell the underlying silicon chips for building these capabilities into other products. The new chips will be based on the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard and will include 2.4GHz and 5.2GHz wireless LAN technology, Intel said.

Under terms of the agreement, Intel and Symbol will have equal rights in perpetuity to the products and intellectual property the two companies create together, as well as rights to manufacture and sell derivatives of these products. The deal also includes an option for Intel to purchase a portion of Symbol's wireless division.