Cortina’s 4th generation EPON ONU continues to transform access market with increased architectural flexibility

SUNNYVALE, USA: Cortina Systems Inc., delivering innovative technologies that link people and networks worldwide, announced its 4th generation EPON ONU, CS803x. The CS803x Integrated Access Platform supports a high performance embedded CPU and a flexible memory configuration for common ONU types. In addition, the CS803x is also compliant with SIEPON's power saving feature and supports the new IEEE Energy Efficient Ethernet standard, which will enable users and carriers to save energy.

“Carriers are implementing PON as a way to deliver fast optical connections to support end users demand for both high speed bandwidth and advance services,” said Rick Li, VP Marketing, Cortina Systems. “Not only does the CS803x reduce BOM costs by embedding the memory, it supports IPv4/IPv6 co-existence for seamless migration from IPv4 to advanced IPv6 services and a powerful processor for VoIP service. The CS803x provides a solution for the FTTx industry with leading benchmark of performance over power and cost.”

“The CS803x from Cortina is one of the first high-performance EPON chips to support the IEEE’s SIEPON standard, which aims to facilitate interoperability,” said Jeff Heynen, Directing Analyst, Broadband Access, Infonetics. “The CS803x is already one of the most versatile EPON chips on the market, with applications ranging from low-end ONT to multi-play residential gateways. Adding SIEPON support increases its versatility by guaranteeing interoperability.”

The CS803x, a low power single chip EPON ONU with a 500MHz CPU and multiple embedded memory options, has a flexible architecture that allows it to be used as a SFU (Single Family Unit), IP Voice and Video, HGU (Home Gateway Unit), and MDU (Multi-dwelling Unit). It features a VoIP interface that can support up to 4 instants of conversation. It also supports the IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet as well as the SIEPON’s power saving mode.

For mobile backhaul and business connectivity applications, the CS803x supports 1PPS/ToD timing synchronization based on China Telecom V2.1 EPON Specification and IEEE 802.1AS. The rich feature set and the low BOM cost make the chip an ideal candidate for a single platform solution for a one-port ONU to a full featured triple play home gateway.