Microsemi Enables Terabit OTN Switching Cards for Flexible Optical Networks

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced DIGI-G5, the newest member of its award-winning DIGI franchise, enabling packet optical transport platforms to triple in capacity while slashing power consumption by 50 percent per port. Fortifying Microsemi as the Optical Transport Network (OTN) processor market leader, the new DIGI-G5 delivers an unprecedented 1.2 terabits per second (Tbps) of combined OTN and client interfaces and is first to market with newly standardized 25 Gigabit Ethernet (GE), 50GE, 200GE, 400GE, Flexible OTN (FlexO) and Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) with integrated security engine enabling flexible encrypted optical connections.

Cloud workloads, mobile data and video streaming will drive a near doubling of network bandwidth by 2021 according to the "Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast." Transporting Ethernet, storage, intellectual property (IP)/ multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and 4G/5G Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI)/eCPRI services over 100G OTN switched connections has proven to be the most fiber, power and cost-efficient deployment solution for moving bits in today's metro and long-haul networks. To meet the anticipated bandwidth growth of the hyper-connected world, network operators are looking to 200G, 400G and new rate-agile FlexO connections to scale up their networks.

In response to this continued growth, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) need to scale from today's 400G line cards and deliver 1 terabit of capacity or more with denser ports of greater than 100G rates. OEMs will also require a device like Microsemi's new DIGI-G5 to leverage DIGI field-hardened OTN software stack and deliver their leading systems with faster time to market.

"China Mobile operates one of the world's largest OTN switched networks," said Li Han, deputy director of the Network Technology Research Institute, China Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. "To meet bandwidth needs as we enter the 5G and cloud era, our metro network must scale by leveraging new higher speed OTN rates while reducing both cost and power per bit. Microsemi's DIGI-G5 platform will enable our suppliers to build higher capacity scalable systems to support our long-term network expansion needs."

DIGI-G5 Enables OTN 3.0, Beyond 100G Era

The industry continues to invest in evolving OTN to meet the needs of a hyperconnected world powered by cloud workloads.

• OTN 1.0 was based on 10G point-to-point wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) connectivity.
• OTN 2.0 is today's mainstream 100G optical connections built on OTN switching.
• OTN 3.0 enables new 25GE, 50GE, 200GE, 400GE and FlexE) interfaces to be transported over new 400G OTN, OTUCn, and FlexO switched connections.

DIGI-G5 provides a quantum leap in bandwidth capacity, delivers the breadth of new OTN 3.0 interfaces and integrates Microsemi's second generation CrypOTN security engine to enable flexible encrypted optical connections.

"Our DIGI OTN processor portfolio has been instrumental in transforming service provider networks to mass deploy 100G OTN switched networks," said Babak Samimi, vice president and business unit manager for Microsemi's Communications Business Unit. "Our DIGI-G5 breaks new ground by enabling the industry's transition to new OTN 3.0 architectures at terabit scalability by delivering three times the port density while lowering power consumption by 50 percent per port."

Field-Hardened OTN Software Stack Accelerates Time to Market

Microsemi's field-proven and carrier-qualified DIGI OTN Switching Software Development Kit (SDK) provides an application-driven hardware abstraction layer (HAL) that simplifies data path setup to a handful of application program interface (API) calls, accelerating development cycles of OEMs. DIGI-G5's on-board ARM® processor enables Tbps application performance by offloading the host central processing unit (CPU) from complex and time-critical operations such as data path provisioning, protection switching and overhead management. With DIGI-G5, OEMs can scale their software performance as demanded by a software-defined networking (SDN) controlled network architecture.

DIGI-G5 Delivers Industry-leading Innovations

Microsemi's OTN processor offers a number of differentiating features, including:

• Total interface bandwidth of up to 1.2Tbps
• Comprehensive Ethernet support: 10GE, 25GE, 50GE, 100GE, 200GE, 400GE and the new OIF FlexE specification
• New OTN 3.0 rates, enabling flexible (FlexO) and fractional 100G+ (OTUCn, OTUCn-m) transmission
• 56G PAM-4 Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) allows direct connection to QSFP-DD, OSFP and coherent digital signal processors (DSPs)
• Integrated packet test set enables remote troubleshooting and debug, driving down capital and operating expenditures
• Integrated security engine enabling end-to-end AES-256 based encryption and authentication
• Integrated G.HAO bandwidth-on-demand processing for OTN switching networks
• Innovative DIGI-Mesh-Connect architecture which enables compact, pay-as-you-grow OTN switching at lowest cost and power by eliminating the need for a centralized switch fabric device.

Market research firm Cignal AI expects the market for OTN-based optical transport equipment to approach $14 billion in 2021, with 100G joined by 400G representing the vast majority of deployed capacity. Advanced packet-OTN switching equipment represents one of the fastest growing segments of the optical market and is at the core of the large metro WDM deployments pursued by carriers such as Verizon, China Mobile and Telefonica. Cignal AI expects revenue for this segment of the optical market to grow at a 20 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2021.

"While 100G is prevalent in both metro and long-haul networks today, next-generation packet optical transport must scale beyond 100G and include features that eliminate excess margin and quickly deliver bandwidth when and where it is needed," said Andrew Schmitt, lead analyst with Cignal AI. "With the DIGI-G5, Microsemi continues a long history of delivering market-leading OTN chipsets that are at the foundation of OTN transport and switching networks."

On top of multi-service OTN processors and Carrier Ethernet/OTN PHYs, Microsemi also offers OTN timing translators, secure field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and PCIe switches. These are critical for the development of OTN transport equipment, OTN switching equipment and data center interconnects using OTN.

Product Availability

Microsemi's new DIGI-G5 will be sampling in the second calendar quarter of 2018. For more information, visit www.microsemi.com/digi-g5 or email sales.support@microsemi.com. For more information about Microsemi's OTN product portfolio visit https://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/optical-networking/3659-otn.

OTN 3.0 Whitepaper and Poster

A white paper and poster discussing OTN 3.0 are also available for download at: https://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/multi-service-otn-processors/5056-pm6010-digi-g5-otn-processor#resources.

Product Showcase at OFC in Corporate Village #6617 and Upper Level Meeting Room 23B

Microsemi will be showcasing its new DIGI-G5 OTN processor, along with other solutions catered to optical communications and networking professionals, at the Optical Networking and Communication Conference & Exhibition (OFC) March 13-15. For more information, visit https://www.microsemi.com/details/328-ofc.

About Microsemi's Product Portfolio for Communications

Microsemi is a premier supplier of semiconductor, system and services differentiated by performance, power reliability and security. Microsemi enables customers to build solutions in a range of applications including Ethernet switches, 100G Ethernet and OTN, cellular infrastructure including LTE-Advanced and 5G, small cells, microwave and millimeter wave systems, Wi-Fi access points, XGS PON or NGPON2 based converged wireline access, broadband gateways including fiber/PON, G.fast and DOCSIS3.1, and home/on-premise security/surveillance. Microsemi's communications portfolio includes high accuracy timing and synchronization including IEEE1588 PTP and NTP servers, software and components; low jitter PLL and high fan-out buffers, enterprise and carrier Ethernet switches and PHYs, voice and audio intelligence including AEC and ASR, lowest power FPGAs with high security and reliability; PCI Express Switches, OTN PHYs and processors, optical drivers, integrated Wi-Fi front-end modules (FEM) and power-efficient and multi-standard power-over-Ethernet (PoE) ICs and systems, and G.hn, G.fast and xDSL line drivers. For more information, visit http://www.microsemi.com/applications/communications.

About Microsemi

Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world's standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; enterprise storage and communication solutions, security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 4,800 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.

Microsemi and the Microsemi logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Microsemi Corporation and/or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks and service marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to announcing its DIGI-G5, the newest member of its award-winning DIGI franchise, enabling packet optical transport platforms to triple in capacity while slashing power consumption by 50 percent per port, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Source: Microsemi Corporation

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