EPON/GPON devices provide unparalleled broadband connectivity to the home

Passive optical networking has emerged as a means of delivering a cost effective yet rich quality of experience to meet customer service demands, as global consumers increasingly expect advanced triple-play services from carriers. With the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) access market continuing to grow across the world, Broadcom has developed a low power residential solution to reduce power consumption and system cost. The high level of integration in Broadcom's BCM6838x Series provides system vendors with a cost-effective solution to implement EPON and GPON home gateway units (HGU) and single family unit (SFU) with a single chip at the lowest system cost.

The BCM6838x Series is a fourth generation passive optical networking processor which builds on Broadcom's proven broadband hardware and software architecture. It boasts the highest level of integration including Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) PHYs, USB, SLAC, SIM card controller and a single power supply. With a two-layer PCB and benefiting from Broadcom's unified software environment, the BCM6838x Series comes with either a single-band or concurrent dual-band Wi-Fi acceleration and enables lowest cost bill of materials.

"Fiber access networks today must effectively deliver the resilient quality and high levels of service associated with PON networks while integrating a wide range of broadband technologies—all without burdening OEMs and operators with additional costs," commented Greg Fischer, Broadcom Vice President and General Manager for Broadband Carrier Access. "Broadcom's new series of PON SoCs offer unparalleled connectivity and service delivery framework for fiber access networks."

"The global market for FTTH subscribers is expected to grow by 24 percent year over year, driven by emerging markets such as China," commented Jeff Heynen, Directing Analyst, Broadband Access and Pay TV, Infonetics, "Broadcom's fourth generation fiber access devices are built on their expertise in EPON and GPON and proven software environment that are unified across all broadband access series."

The Broadcom BCM6838x Series is currently sampling.