UpZide and Tensilica to
Cooperate on VDSL2 Data-Path Design
Solution to provide HDTV bandwidth
over phone lines
Luleå,
Sweden, and Santa Clara, Calif., April 6, 2005 -
UpZide Labs AB and Tensilica, Inc., today announced
a development agreement in the area of VDSL2
data-path design. Under the agreement, UpZide
will develop a reference design utilizing multiple
Xtensa LX processors from Tensilica to implement
the VDSL2 (second generation Very high-speed
Digital Subscriber Line) standard. Because the
standard is evolving, it's essential that the
VDSL2 data-path component be designed with the
flexibility required to adapt to all possible
changes. By designing with highly configurable
Xtensa processors rather than RTL (register transfer
level code), and by extending the instruction
set to handle the data-intensive demands of the
VDSL2 standard, UpZide will be able to make available
for license a fast, efficient, and programmable
solution for this rapidly growing market. .
The VDSL2 standard provides broadband
connections at speeds of up to 100 Mbps symmetrical,
which is fast enough to deliver the "triple play" applications
of voice, data and video to a wide audience. This
technology is seen as key to delivering VoIP (voice
over Internet protocol), VoD (video on demand)
and HDTV (high-definition television) simultaneously
over standard telephone lines.
"The evolving VDSL2 standard
puts extreme requirements on system-on-chip designs;
some can even be considered contradictory," according
to UpZide's CEO, Dr. Mikael Isaksson. "Compared
to existing VDSL, VDSL2 must offer both longer
range and support the delivery of higher bandwidth
services at low production costs, high port density
and low power consumption. Tensilica's Xtensa processors
will allow us to deliver these challenging requirements
along with the flexibility inherent in a programmable
solution.
"UpZide brings to the partnership
unique expertise gained from designing several
VDSL platforms in various semiconductor technologies,
including FPGAs, ASICs and DSPs, since 1995. Tensilica's
Xtensa processors are ideal for this project because
they can be optimised precisely for this application,
making them much faster and energy efficient than
standard control processors, enabling UpZide to
design a processor based solution with the power-area
efficiency previously only attainable with hard-coded
RTL design methodologies," Dr. Isaksson added.
"VDSL2 design is challenging.
It needs to be processor-based so it can be future
proof to quickly respond to changes in standards
and to different customer requirements," stated
Steve Roddy, vice president of marketing at Tensilica. "That's
why we're happy to support UpZide's VDSL2 design
efforts. Their extensive expertise with VDSL should
give them a head start in the VDSL2 market."
About UpZide
Based in Sweden, UpZide's core business
is to offer embedded software, system-on-chip designs
and expert services to chipset manufacturers and
system integrators, enabling them to enter the
market with standard compliant communication system
solutions. UpZide was founded in 2001 by the key
individuals that developed the Zipper DMT technology,
a concept that is currently a cornerstone of the
international VDSL standard, as well as the evolving
VDSL2 standard. See www.upzide.com
About Tensilica
Tensilica was founded in July 1997
to address the growing need for optimized, application-specific
microprocessor solutions in high-volume embedded
applications. With a configurable and extensible
microprocessor core called Xtensa, Tensilica is
the only company that has automated and patented
the time-consuming process of generating a customized
microprocessor core along with a complete software
development tool environment, producing new configurations
in a matter of hours. For more information, visit www.tensilica.com .
# # #
Editors'
Notes:
- Tensilica, and Xtensa are
registered trademarks belonging to Tensilica
Inc. All other company and product names are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
- Tensilica's announced licensees
include Agilent, ALPS, AMCC (JNI Corporation),
Astute Networks, ATI, Avision, Bay Microsystems,
Berkeley Wireless Research Center, Broadcom,
Cisco Systems, Conexant Systems, Cypress, Crimson
Microsystems, ETRI, FUJIFILM Microdevices, Fujitsu
Ltd., Hudson Soft, Hughes Network Systems, Ikanos
Communications, LG Electronics, Marvell, NEC
Laboratories America, NEC Corporation, NetEffect,
Neterion, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT),
NVIDIA, Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., Seiko Epson,
Solid State Systems, Sony, STMicroelectronics,
Stretch, TranSwitch Corporation, and Victor Company
of Japan (JVC)
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