The faster track

DSP-based ADSL products to provide quicker access to the Internet

A new family of asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) chipsets now available from Texas Instruments will help meet the demand for faster Internet access.

The ADSL products, designed to offer home and business users high-speed Internet access 100 times the performance of today's analog modem technology, are the leading industry solutions that deliver the performance and programmability necessary to support evolutionary versions of DSL. They will give consumers the flexibility to upgrade their modems to the new DSL technology by simply downloading new software.

TNETD2000R/TNETD2000P

Designed for use in client-side modems, the TNETD2000R chipset provides the core solution for both external and network termination box modems. The TNETD2000P delivers the industry's most comprehensive solution for internal peripheral component interconnect (PCI) adapter cards. The '2000P chipset includes an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) host interface controller and robust Microsoft Windows drivers. Complete adapter card production reference designs based on the '2000P also will be offered. These designs will help PC and modem vendors bring their products to market faster.

TNETD2000C

The first and only chipset on the market to support multiple ADSL lines via a single transceiver, the TNETD2000C ADSL chipset addresses critical central office design concerns. The chipset's multi-line architecture increases port densities, lowers power consumption and reduces cost-per-line. Capable of supporting two full-rate ADSL modems, the '2000C is also standards-compliant, assuring telecommunications manufacturers that their designs will be fully compatible with complementary ADSL equipment. As these standards evolve, the programmability of the TNETD2000C chipset ensures that the designs will stay both standard-compliant and interoperable.

The product family includes three chipsets that leverage a fully programmable DSP ADSL transceiver. The TNETD2000P and TNETD2000R client-side solutions and TNETD2000C central office chipset each includes the ADSL transceiver based on the powerful, industry-leading TMS320C6x DSP core, a digital interface, codec and line driver. The chipsets provide DSP solutions for both ends of the Internet access local loop, and they can execute the fast and extremely complex calculations required for high-speed DSL because they are based on TI's DSP core technology.

Suitable applications

The ADSL products are suited for use in new, high-speed PC modems and service provider equipment such as digital subscriber line access mutiplexers (DSLAMs), digital loop carriers (DLCs) and central office cards. They also are compliant with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) TI.413 Issue 2 and support up to 8 megabits per second (Mbps) rates for downstream communications and 800 kilobits per second (Kbps) rates for upstream communications. The TNETD2000C central office side chipset is the only solution that can support multiple lines via the ADSL transceiver.

With these new products, end-equipment manufacturers can now quickly deliver low-cost, high-performance ADSL modems to the consumer market. Service providers can deploy ADSL services rapidly and cost-effectively for a competitive advantage. Programmability, a key benefit provided for both client-side and central office solutions, addresses evolving versions of DSL that will target residential applications of discrete multi-tone based (DMT)-based ADSL such as splitterless technology. This is especially important since splitterless is a version of DSL with the potential to reduce installation costs and accelerate market acceptance.

DSP programmability will also create a time-to-market advantage for TI's customers while its flexible architecture will enable faster development of new, tailored solutions for specific market segments. Also, the scalability of the architecture allows modem designs to support bit rates less than 1 Mbps and up to 8 Mbps so manufacturers can address both consumer and business markets.

Technology and expertise

All three ADSL chipsets combine TI's TMS320C6x core, the world's fastest DSP, and precision mixed-signal components with DMT echo cancellation technology from Amati Communications. Recently acquired by TI, Amati has been the pioneer and leading ADSL developer as well as a significant contributor to ANSI and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards.

Collectively, TI now holds elected positions in the TI.413 Issue 2 standards body, G.DMT and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). TI also will leverage the field trials in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia started by Amati in 1995. Additionally, TI is a core technology provider to the Universal ADSL Working Group (UAWG), a consortium organized by Microsoft, Intel and Compaq to promote interoperability of DSL consumer products.

Availability

TI's ADSL chipsets are available now in sample quantities. Evaluation kits are expected to be available in the second quarter of 1998 while volume production and TNETD2000P reference designs are planned for the third quarter.

TNETD2000C	$95
TNETD2000P	$76
TNETD2000R	$65

Suggested resale pricing in U.S. dollars in 25K quantity.

For complete information, order: Product Bulletin -- ADSL Client Modem Solution for the PC (SPAT0006), Product Bulletin -- ADSL Modem Solution for Central Office (SPAT007) and DSL Image Brochure (SPAT0005). See Order form