Ikanos Debuts VDSL2 Gateway Reference Platform Featuring Atheros 802.11n XSPAN Technology


Integrated VDSL2 and Wi-Fi Technologies Deliver the Ultimate Multimedia Home Networking Experience

FREMONT and SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 25 / - Ikanos Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:IKAN), a leading developer and provider of Fiber Fast(TM) broadband solutions, and Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless solutions, have jointly developed a Fusiv®-based reference platform that integrates VDSL2 technology with the new 802.11n draft 2.0 technology. This reference platform combines Ikanos' Fusiv Vx180, introduced as the industry's fastest integrated VDSL2 gateway processor, with Atheros' XSPAN(TM) 802.11n draft 2.0 solutions, the Wi-Fi market's most broadly adopted new-generation designs, to provide a high-performance, wireless-enabled, xDSL residential gateway reference platform for triple play applications.

The reference platform is a fully qualified solution that offers scalability and best-in-class performance. The Vx180 supports 802.11n wireless LAN (WLAN) using less than one-half the processing power of comparable DSL platforms. This is accomplished by optimizing and running 802.11n drivers on Fusiv's distributed architecture, which includes a host CPU and multiple high-performance Accelerator Processors.

Optimized for rich media services, Ikanos' Fusiv Vx180 is a single chip, multi-mode VDSL2 gateway processor, which provides up to 2.7 GHz of processing power, on-chip voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), virtual private network (VPN) security, routing and bridging, while supporting best-in-class quality of service (QoS) and wire speed performance.

"Ikanos' Fusiv product line offers the power and performance necessary to take full advantage of the high throughput delivered by Atheros' 802.11n draft 2.0 technology," said Michael Stauffer, director of marketing for the carrier business at Atheros.

Ikanos selected Atheros' XSPAN dual-band concurrent and dual-band configurable draft 802.11n solutions for the new joint reference platform. Dual-concurrent Wi-Fi is the optimal configuration for gateways as it can support latency-sensitive multimedia applications using the less crowded 5GHz band, and data traffic using the 2.4GHz band. Ideal for home gateway applications, Atheros' 802.11n draft 2.0 technology was designed to provide whole home coverage with significantly increased bandwidth capacity - up to 200 Mbps of real user throughput per band with Atheros' XSPAN with Signal-Sustain Technology(TM) (SST). Only gateways enabled by XSPAN with SST offer industry-leading wireless signal reliability which results from the world's only 3-transmit/3-receive (3Tx/3Rx) MIMO design. The company's innovative triple-radio design delivers higher throughput at greater distances than typical 2x2 MIMO solutions. By doing so, it provides a significant competitive advantage for carriers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) looking to optimize the end-user experience.

"The collaboration between Atheros and Ikanos is designed to allow our customers to quickly and cost-effectively deliver industry-leading, high-performance, wireless-enabled, triple-play residential gateways," said Dean Westman, vice president and general manager for Ikanos' Gateway Products Group.

Ikanos and Atheros will jointly market the fully integrated residential gateway reference designs to DSL service providers and their gateway equipment suppliers. These customers will have the advantage of quick time-to-market through these turnkey solutions from Ikanos, whereby they will have a single agreement and point of contact for direct support.

"Carriers around the world are seeking cost-effective solutions for delivering high-value multi-play services, such as broadband Internet access, VoIP, video conferencing, Internet protocol television (IPTV), home networking, WLAN and multimedia converged services," said Ahmed Selmani, managing director of residential terminals business unit at Sagem Communication. "Ikanos' Vx180, paired with advanced 802.11n capabilities from Atheros, offers the highest level of performance, integration and flexibility, enabling us to meet the demanding requirements for next-generation residential gateways."

The joint reference platform is now available. It is the first in a series of 802.11n-enabled solutions to be developed by Ikanos and Atheros to support VDSL2, ADSL2+ and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) gateway solutions.

For more information on the new 802.11n wireless Vx180 residential gateway joint reference platform, please visit http://ikanos.com/solutions/vdsl/rg.cfm.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is a leading developer of semiconductor system solutions for wireless and other network communications products. Atheros combines its wireless and networking systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost, standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is being used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer, networking equipment and consumer device manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.atheros.com/ or send email to info@atheros.com.

About Ikanos Communications, Inc.

Ikanos Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:IKAN) develops chipsets that enable carriers to offer Fiber Fast(TM) bandwidth and Gigabit network processing for enhanced triple play services. Ikanos' multi-mode VDSL2/ADSLx and network processor solutions power access infrastructure and customer premises equipment for many of the world's leading network equipment manufacturers. Ikanos' solutions enable fast and cost-effective carrier rollouts of interactive broadband services, including IPTV. For more information, visit http://www.ikanos.com/.

Source: Ikanos Communications, Inc.

CONTACT:
Susan Lehman of Rockpoint Public Relations
+1-510-832-6006
susan@rockpointpr.com for Ikanos Communications
or
Margo Westfall of Ikanos Communications
+1-510-438-6276
mwestfall@ikanos.com
or
Dakota Lee of Atheros Communications
+1-408-720-5597
dlee@atheros.com

Web site:
http://www.ikanos.com/
http://www.atheros.com/

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