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Broadcom Corp.  has introduced what it claims is the industry's first 100-Gbps full-duplex network processor unit (NPU) that will enable the next wave of 100-Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) optimized switches and routers for service provider networks.

The fully programmable BCM88030 family features 64 custom processors running at 1 GHz, delivering more than twice the throughput of any NPU on the market, according to Broadcom. The company also claims that the BCM88030 has the industry's highest level of integration, thus eliminating external components and reducing system cost and power by up to 80 percent per 10GbE port.

Built on the XGS Core packet processing architecture, the BCM88030 family delivers a feature-rich application at 100GbE full duplex for complex service provider switching and routing requirements, Broadcom continues. It incorporates an array of high-speed processors, multi-threading, and hardware acceleration for functions such as packet parsing, classification, and look-ups. The BCM88030 family is completely user programmable, enabling a highly flexible forwarding NPU that ensures support for the most demanding applications, both existing and future, Broadcom asserts.

The BCM88030 NPU family also includes a proprietary algorithmic look-up engine using DDR-3 DRAM that enables scale for Layer 2, IPv4, and IPv6 tables while reducing system cost. Algorithmic on-chip access control list (ACL) capability is available along with seamless expansion using Broadcom's NL566xx knowledge-based processor (KBP).

Other features include:

    Integrated OA&M engine, 1588 timing, and Synchronous Ethernet, 10GbE.
    SerDes and 1/10/40/100GbE Ethernet MACs that reduce board space, system cost, and power.
    Seamless integration with XLP multi-core processors for control plane processing.

The BCM88030 family consists of three devices: the 100-Gbps BCM88038 NPU, the 50-Gbps BCM88034 NPU, and the BCM88032 24-Gbps NPU. All devices are now sampling with production volume slated for the second half of 2012.

ADVA Optical Networking says that the Municipality of Cape Town has deployed its FSP 3000 WDM platform in the city’s not-for-profit municipally owned network. The network’s initial core ring configuration connects key municipal offices throughout the city via more than 100 km of fiber to support MPLS and 10-Gbps Ethernet services.

In addition to such anchor institutions as libraries, schools, hospitals, research institutions and other organizations, the network will ultimately provide service providers, enterprises, and communities with a shared infrastructure to offer affordable commercial services.

“We believe the network we’ve built here is a first for Africa,” commented Leon van Wyk, telecommunications manager at City of Cape Town. “By building our own dark fiber network, we’re able to drive the rollout of broadband services throughout the municipality and the region. Our mandate is primarily to provide high-bandwidth network services to government entities, including schools, clinics, hospitals, and libraries, but we also want to encourage the private sector to deliver every business, family, and organization the bandwidth they need to participate in the modern knowledge economy. Data is the currency of tomorrow and with ADVA Optical Networking’s help, support, and direction, we’ve built a strong foundation for the future.”

The network’s core currently comprises eight nodes, each outfitted with the FSP 3000. The next phase of the project will expand the core ring to all parts of the Cape Town metro area via as many as 100 new nodes. The population of Cape Town in 2010 was estimated at 3.7 million people -- with an estimated 1,060,964 household units -- and is estimated to grow to 4.25 million in 2030.

“This is an incredible project to be involved in,” commented Günter Landers, sales director, Africa, ADVA Optical Networking. “The Municipality of Cape Town is developing a network that will dramatically impact upon the community. It will provide high-speed connectivity for a whole range of government services, as well as enabling people to access applications such as remote learning, telemedicine, and video conferencing.”

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry’s first 100 Gbps full duplex network processor unit (NPU). Enabling the next wave of 100GbE optimized switches and routers for service provider networks, the fully programmable BCM88030 family features 64 custom processors running at 1GHz, delivering more than 2X the throughput of any NPU on the market. With the industry’s highest level of integration, the BCM88030 solution eliminates costly external components, dramatically reducing system cost and power by up to 80 percent per 10GbE port. For more news from Broadcom visit our newsroom.

In 2012, the number of connected devices is set to exceed the world’s population with an estimated 7 billion devices connected to the network1. By 2015, 90 percent of content viewed on mobile devices will be streaming video and application downloads are expected to reach 47 billion per year1. To satisfy this overwhelming appetite for bandwidth, service providers around the globe are racing to transform their networks by adopting higher bandwidth links. Analysts estimate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 170 percent from 2011 to 2016 for 100G Ethernet ports as service providers rush to meet this demand.

Built on the proven XGS Core® packet processing architecture, the BCM88030 family delivers the industry’s highest performance NPU in a single device. With a powerful array of high-speed processors, extensive multi-threading and hardware acceleration for functions such as packet parsing, classification and look-ups, the BCM88030 product family delivers a feature-rich application at 100GbE full duplex for complex service provider switching and routing requirements. With a robust software development environment, the BCM88030 family is completely user programmable, enabling a highly flexible forwarding solution that ensures support for the most demanding applications, both existing and future.

Broadcom Corp

RAD Data Communications Inc. has launched the ETX-5300A Ethernet Service Aggregation Platform, which grooms Ethernet and TDM traffic from the access network to the provider’s edge (PE). The ETX-5300A can enable operators to substantially reduce their operational costs per Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) link, RAD asserts.

Conforming to emerging Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) CE 2.0 specifications, the new device offers a complete Carrier Ethernet ecosystem in combination with RAD’s demarcation network termination units (NIDs), according to RAD.

The company also claims that the new platform features the highest capacity-to-size ratio in the market. “RAD has applied its wide experience and technological expertise in access networks to design a central-site Carrier Ethernet solution tailor-made for pre-aggregation in larger networks but equally able to be deployed as a service hub in smaller operations or private networks,” said Amir Karo, vice president of marketing at RAD Data Communications.

“And we’ve addressed the ‘sweet spot’ for operators requiring full-blown functionality and high port capacity but packaged in a small-form factor box that uses less than half the power consumption than any competitive product in the market,” Karo added.

“RAD’s ETX-5300A is the type of solution that defines a next-generation Carrier Ethernet access/aggregation platform optimized for converging business, wholesale, and mobile backhaul services onto a single, operationally efficient network infrastructure,” offered Stan Hubbard, senior analyst, Heavy Reading. “Its high port density, hierarchical traffic management features, synchronization solution set, 10GbE ring support, and smooth service and network management integration with other Ethernet access platforms in RAD’s portfolio should resonate well with network operators looking to address a variety of applications.”

“To address current market pressures, service providers are looking to minimize costs and accomplish as much as possible with minimal equipment,” added Erin Dunne, director of research services at Vertical Systems Group. “With that in mind, their needs are best addressed by systems that intelligently aggregate and manage the most Ethernet traffic at the lowest cost and smallest footprint.”

The ETX-5300A aggregates up to 80xGbE or 16x10GbE access links into redundant 10GbE ports for transmission via DWDM, freeing PE capacity and significantly reducing capex and opex by cutting the price per link by half, or more, when working opposite RAD’s ETX Carrier Ethernet demarcation devices. It can also be deployed to deliver SLA-based business Ethernet services. The 3U-high device can easily be placed in street cabinets, basement communications rooms or crowded racks in their access POPs.

“The ETX-5300A includes powerful hierarchical traffic management features to increase service efficiency along with wholesale carrier-to-carrier ENNI connectivity for end-to-end network visibility and service mapping, as well as legacy TDM capabilities,” said Eyal Aloni, RAD’s ETX portfolio manager. “Moreover, it features an extensive toolset with an unsurpassed suite of advanced timing-over-packet synchronization technologies, including a 1588 Grandmaster Clock, so it can also be used to provide timing-over-packet services in wholesale networks and serve as a single instrument for empowering the convergence of business and mobile network services over the same infrastructure.”