Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation (Pink Sheets:VTSS) today announced the release of its next-generation Dual Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) integrated circuits with integrated Electronic Dispersion Compensation (EDC), the VSC8240 and VSC8242.

Devices offering EDC are essential to enabling 10 GbE implementations across multiple applications in Enterprise, Metro and Core networks including those using SFP+ optical interconnects, XFP optical interconnects, 10G NICs, 10G copper interconnects, and 10G copper backplanes.

These new, low-power, EDC devices evolve from Vitesse’s first-generation EDC technology, the VSC8238, which is the solution of choice for optical module suppliers of 10GBASE-LRM in the X2 form factor. X2 is the dominant optical module for 10 GbE shipments today. The 10GBASE-LRM standard, enabled by the VSC8238, has allowed deployment of 10 GbE solutions with low-cost legacy multi-mode fiber in Enterprise networks.

“Vitesse EDC technology has been accepted as the gold standard in the industry and has been attributed to enabling the quick ramp-up of 10GBASE-LRM deployment,” said Tony Conoscenti, vice president, product marketing for Vitesse. “Vitesse has shipped 50,000 ports of VSC8238 for 10 GbE applications. Now, we have moved our EDC technology into lower power CMOS. This new product doubles the integration and reduces power consumption by 50 percent. It will substantially reduce the cost of deployment of 10 GbE across the optical Enterprise and Metro service transport networks.”

Enabling SFP+ Applications

10 GbE port shipments are anticipated to top the one million mark in 2009, according to the latest edition of Light Reading’s Components Insider. Lower cost, lower power and higher port densities are driving SFP+ to become the predominant optical module format of these new platforms. The lead application for the VSC8242 is enabling the migration of datacom and telecom routers and switches to the SFP+ optical module form factor. Three SFP+ reach applications have been standardized for 10 GbE networks: 10GBASE-SR, -LR and -LRM. The VSC8242 supports all three applications and has compliance with IEEE standards: 802.3aq, 802.3ae, and SFF-8431 electrical specifications. This functionality allows existing module designs to quickly, seamlessly and cost-effectively migrate to the SFP+ form factor.

The VSC8242 incorporates two bi-directional 10 Gbps paths to support the increased port densities. Additional features of the VSC8242 include various lookbacks, a complete set of programmable Rx and Tx path functionality, such as output pre-emphasis, and full 1 GbE data rate support. Packaged in a small 12mm by 12mm flip-chip CSP package, the VSC8242 has an integrated microcontroller to enable auto adaptation of dispersed optical signals. Typical power dissipation is only 750mW for each bi-direction channel.

Successful interoperability testing of the VSC8242 with SFP+ optical modules from leading vendors has provided the broadest collection of real life system application data available in the industry with coverage for all three applications: SR, LR, and LRM. Fully autonomous convergence code has been released to Vitesse’s Enterprise customers and module partners.

A single channel variant, the VSC8240, is also available in an 8mm by 8mm flip-chip CSP package. The VSC8240 has all of the functionality of the VSC8242, but is targeted at XFP CDR applications and other single receive path applications such as single mode fiber reach extension applications in metro and long haul transport systems. The VSC8240 compensates for both SMF chromatic dispersion (up to 2400ps/nm) and polarization–mode dispersion (over 70ps differential-group delay) in a poor OSNR environment and will enable the adoption of 120Km, 160Km, and longer applications.

Vitesse’s market-leading EDC technology is part of a complete line of physical layer and switching products covering 10 GbE and SONET/SDH applications for Carrier Ethernet and optical transport networks.

About Vitesse

Vitesse designs, develops and markets a diverse portfolio of high-performance, cost-competitive semiconductor solutions for communications networks worldwide. Engineering excellence and dedicated customer service distinguish Vitesse as an industry leader in Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Ethernet-over-SONET, Fibre Channel, Optical Transport, and other applications. Vitesse innovation empowers customers to deliver superior products for Enterprise, Access, Metro, and Core applications. Additional company and product information is available at www.vitesse.com.

Vitesse is a registered trademark in the United States and/or other jurisdictions of Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective holders.

Safe Harbor

Statements made in this release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements containing words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ are identified in the public filings made by Vitesse with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include the fact that we have disclosed that you should not rely upon our published financial statements and the fact that we have not filed all of our reports required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. More information on factors that could affect our business and financial results are included in our public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the web site of the Securities and Exchange Commission, www.sec.gov.

The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control. We caution investors that any forward-looking statements made by us are not guarantees of future performance, including, but not limited to, the risks that the recently announced proposed settlement of certain lawsuits against the Company will not be completed or approved by the court, that any court approval will be successfully reversed on appeal, or that the settlement agreement is terminated or cancelled under its terms. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Vitesse
Ronda Grech, +1-805-388-3700
pressrelations@vitesse.com