Broadcom Extends Its VoIP xChange? Software Leadership from Consumer, Enterprise, Cable and Carrier VoIP to Next Generation Access Node Applications

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept 29, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Broadband World Forum 2008 -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced its new high performance voice over IP (VoIP) digital signal processor (DSP) that targets next generation OEM designs of multi-service access nodes (MSANs), IP digital subscriber line access multiplexers (IPDSLAMs) and deep fiber multi- dwelling units (MDU). For telecommunications carriers and broadband service providers that need to modernize and streamline their access networks to provide newer and advanced revenue generating IP-based bundled services to consumers, the new Broadcom? VoIP DSP simplifies equipment design and enables IP service convergence, with integrated or unified network management, at a very competitive cost.

At present, the architecture and design of broadband access equipment are evolving into IP-based next generation network (NGN) implementations that support multiple revenue generating services instead of traditional digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) and plain old telephone systems (POTS) in central offices and remote digital loop carrier (DLC) locations. With a clear trend towards fiber deeper into carrier networks, OEMs will increase their offerings of VoIP line cards within their Ethernet-based DSLAM or fiber to the x (FTTX) portfolios, especially in emerging markets where digital subscriber lines and VoIP subscriber lines are deployed almost on a 1-to-1 ratio. The MSAN VoIP market is also growing as carriers deploy more fiber-to-the-node technology while replacing traditional class 5 switches with VoIP-based technologies.

To address this market opportunity, Broadcom has announced the new BCM6515 VoIP DSP that enables carriers and service providers to offer truly low cost and high quality telephone services that can be bundled with high-speed Internet access, IPTV and a host of converged wireless capabilities. The BCM6515 leverages the company's feature-rich VoIP xChange? software that is widely used in enterprise, consumer, cable and carrier OEM products to provide carrier-class VoIP in next generation MSANs.

Leveraging Broadcom's field proven and successful DSP platforms, networking companion chips and easy to integrate management architectures in DSL, the BCM6515 provides a ready-to-use voice access solution that enables OEMs to streamline and reduce the costs of their Ethernet-based MSAN products. With a high density design that provides up to 72 lines of complex voice coding, the BCM6515 will accelerate the mass deployment of telephone services in new markets and replace older technologies in established markets.

"Our carrier access VoIP developments are a natural evolution of the widely used VoIP silicon and software solutions provided by Broadcom in both enterprise and consumer applications," said Greg Fischer, Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom's Carrier Access line of business. "Utilizing our high performance and proven DSP technology, the BCM6515 scales nicely in terms of voice and media processing capabilities, and the fact that our customers can leverage their previous software developments will enable them to extend their product portfolio both at low risk and a lower development cost."

To provide even faster time-to-market for OEM partners, Broadcom also announced today the availability of its BCM96515 high performance voice line termination reference design, which is a joint collaboration between Broadcom and Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. The BCM96515 reference design is based on Broadcom's BCM6515 DSP and BCM5481 Gigabit Ethernet transceiver chip, and Zarlink's VoiceEdge? VE792 next generation carrier chipset (NGCC). The Zarlink VoiceEdge VE792 chipset includes an octal subscriber line audio-processing circuit (SLAC) with an integrated carrier-grade line test toolbox, single channel subscriber line interface circuits (SLIC), and a multi-port voice control processor (VCP) that provides real-time call control functions, as well as carrier-grade line testing (when enabled with Zarlink LineCare? software).

"Broadcom and Zarlink have a long established history of jointly bringing the highest quality voice solutions to market," said Hank Perret, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Communication Products at Zarlink Semiconductor. "This latest joint platform now expands that relationship to carrier markets allowing line card designers to quickly deliver the lowest power consumption, highest density and best performing products with respect to line testing and cyclical redundancy checking within xDSL applications."

Technical Information

Extending Broadcom's leadership within Broadband VoIP, the BCM6515 leverages the company's Firepath? high performance digital signal processor technology to provide high-speed voice coding, voice compression, IP processing, and embedded adaptive jitter buffering with direct uplink network connectivity in combination with Broadcom's low cost BCM5481 Gigabit Ethernet transceiver.

In addition, the BCM6515 features carrier-grade voice capabilities with support for International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard codecs such as G.711a and u, G.726, G.729a, G.723.1, TR38 fax relay, three-way conferencing and many more narrow band telephony features that enhance quality like echo cancellation, tone detection, packet loss concealment and comfort noise generation. Broadcom also provides OEMs with software support for multiple choices of signaling protocols such as H.248, SIP or MGCP call management and voice line card management.