Broadcom Announces New High-Performance Multi-Rate Gigabit PHYs

Broadcom Announces New High-Performance Multi-Rate Gigabit PHYs

Next-Generation 28nm Copper Devices Support 2.5G and 5G Ethernet

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2014 — Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced a new series of physical layer transceivers (PHYs) supporting 2.5G and 5G Ethernet speeds. The next-generation devices provide a 2.5X to 5X increase in data rate over Gigabit Ethernet with no disruption to existing cabling infrastructure. The new devices also offer the lowest bill-of-materials, cost and power consumption. For more information visit Broadcom’s Newsroom.

The BCM8486X Series provides network managers with additional data rate options that go beyond 1G and 10G, while improving performance over currently deployed Cat5e and Cat6 cabling. The new PHYs also unleash the full benefits of next-generation 802.11ac wireless technology, including Wave 1 and Wave 2 MIMO and ensures a seamless wired connection between the access point and switch.

“As the influx of wireless computing devices continues to increase within the enterprise, the need for additional data rates is becoming a necessity,” said Lorenzo Longo, Broadcom Vice President and General Manager, Physical Layer Products. “The BCM8486X Series extends our robust PHY portfolio and helps alleviate some of the current challenges of 1G and 10G speeds within the enterprise.”

Designed in 28 nanometer (nm) process technology, the BCM8486X Series is the industry’s first 2.5/5G PHY based on the open and royalty-free specification adopted by the MGBASE-T Alliance. Available in single-port and quad-port packages, the new PHYs address both the switching and access point markets. Based on the industry proven 10GBASE-T architecture, the BCM8486X Series offers the coding strength of 10G at 2.5G and 5G speeds, resulting in improved alien noise rejection and a cable reach of more than 100m over existing Cat5e and Cat6 cables. Integrated coding and constellation schemes provide best-in-class wideband noise rejection, allowing system vendors to implement low cost 2.5G capable platforms using magnetics similar in cost to 1000-BASE-T-based platforms.

Key Features

• Single-chip integrated single Ethernet transceiver-MAC to magnetics:
  • 10GBASE-T IEEE 802.3an
  • 5GBASE-T (MGBASE-T Specification)
  • 2.5GBASE-T (MGBASE-T Specification)
  • 1000BASE-T IEEE 802.3ab
  • 100BASE-TX IEEE 802.3u
• IEEE 1588-2008 version 2-compliant
• IEEE fast retrain and link monitoring
• EEE in 10G, 5G, 2.5G, 1000 and 100 BASE-T modes
• BCM84860 and BCM84861 (single-port) packaged in 11mm x 11mm FBGA
• BCM84864 and BCM84868 (quad-port) packaged in 23mm x 23mm FBGA

Availability

The BCM8486X Series consists of four devices including the BCM84860, BCM84861, BCM84864 and BCM84868. All device options are now sampling.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500 company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments. With the industry’s broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by connecting everything. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.