PMC-Sierra introduces Universal Front End 4 (UFE4) silicon to accelerate transition of carrier networks to Ethernet-based mobile backhaul

“After joining forces with PMC-Sierra, we are pleased to introduce our latest solution to further accelerate the industry’s transition to IP-based networks,” said Robert O’Dell, Vice-President of Marketing, Wireless Infrastructure and Networking Division of PMC-Sierra. “Our UFE4 product family builds on the success of the WinPath and UFE platforms to allow our OEM customers to develop more efficient multi-service aggregation and transport equipment that enable carriers to efficiently transition their 2G and 3G networks to Ethernet backhaul while future-proofing their infrastructure investment.”

PMC-Sierra’s UFE4 co-processor and WinPath3 support a variety of services: TDM, ATM, Frame Relay, HDLC, PPP and Circuit Emulation. The UFE4 integrates a SONET/SDH Framer/Mapper, as well as an advanced Protocol Pre-Processing Core for PWE3 services for SONET/SDH networks. The UFE4 supports all protocols on both channelised and non-channelised interfaces, enabling a true Any-Service, Any-Port platform. Together with the WinPath3, this platform supports a variety of protocol interworking services including CES over PSN, ATM over PSN, PPP/ML-PPP, HDLC, IP and Ethernet interworking and many others. The combination of the UFE4 and WinPath3 creates a flexible platform that allows OEMs to develop feature rich solutions while minimising board space and power consumption.