New DSP-Based ADSL Products Available Today From Texas Instruments Make Fast Internet Access a Reality
DALLAS (March 30, 1998) -- Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE:TXN) has announced the availability of its asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) chipset technology designed to offer home and business users high-speed Internet access 100 times the performance of today's analog modem technology. The new products based on TI's industry leading digital signal processor (DSP) core technology will give consumers the flexibility to upgrade their modems to new evolving DSL technologies by simply downloading new software. TI's solution, targeted at service provider equipment, is the industry's first chipset to support multiple lines, a key issue for promoting fast and scalable ADSL deployment.
TI has three ADSL products that provide DSP solutions for both ends of the Internet access local loop. The chipsets can execute the fast and extremely complex calculations required for high speed DSL because they are based on TI's industry-leading DSP core technology. TI DSP solutions offer full programmability, a key enabler for evolving with the latest versions of DSL. All chipsets 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 at 9,500-foot line lengths for upstream communications.
"TI has chosen to focus on ADSL development because it offers a perfect match of DSP performance and programmability capabilities to the needs of a large and growing market, with potential demand for 1.6 billion potential devices," said Bill Eversole, director of marketing for TI's Broadband Access Group. "TI's DSP-based ADSL products address both consumer and service provider needs, with a flexible architecture that can promote continued TI market leadership for years to come as standards and DSL technologies evolve."
The Right Products for the Right Markets
Although ADSL runs over the ordinary telephone lines installed in homes and businesses, it requires a modem on the user's side and access equipment on the service provider's side of the line. TI is addressing the needs of consumers and service providers with its TNETD2000C, TNETD2000R and TNETD2000P chipsets, first discussed in January. Each of the solutions leverages a fully programmable, TMS320C6x core ADSL transceiver. Supporting two lines per chipset today, TI's ADSL chipset architecture will create products that support more lines in the future, enabling service providers to meet growing market demands efficiently and economically.
The chipset's programmable, scalable and extensible features will enable consumers to keep pace with changes in technology simply by downloading software upgrades over the network instead of buying a new modem. TI's programmable DSP technology will give service providers and telecommunications manufacturers the assurance that their equipment will remain standards-compliant and interoperable with complementary equipment for the long term. The new chipset will be moderately priced, allowing consumers to purchase a modem for approximately $200.
Interoperability is Essential
A key factor for encouraging fast market acceptance of ADSL is assuring interoperability of service provider and consumer products from multiple manufacturers. TI is conducting interoperability testing with Analog Devices, Alcatel, and other ADSL technology vendors. 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.
"Interoperability will enable service providers and consumers to choose the best products for their needs in terms of features and price," said Eversole. "It will also avoid the proprietary combinations of service provider and consumer products required by integrated services digital network (ISDN), a factor that substantially hindered its market acceptance."
Leveraging TI DSL Technology and Amati Expertise
All three ADSL chipsets combine TI's 'c62X core technology, the world's fastest DSP, and precision mixed-signal components with DMT echo cancellation technology from Amati Communications. TI's track record includes a #1 market position in DSP, a #1 market position in the analog market, and more than 40 million DSP voiceband modem chipsets sold worldwide.
For more information on TI's ADSL chipset, please visit www.ti.com/sc/docs/network/nbuhomex.htm.
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