Zarlink Targets Growing Voice-over-Packet Gateway Market with New H.110 TDM Switch

Zarlink's TDM switch family is designed for applications where timing signals and data interfaces are defined by the ECTF (Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum) H.110 CompactPCI(R) (peripheral component interconnect) standard. CompactPCI is widely used in network edge applications, such as VoIP (Voice-over-IP) media gateways, wireless base stations, multi-service access platforms and PBXs (personal branch exchanges). Motorola has already designed VoIP gateway and media processing platforms using Zarlink's existing H.110 TDM switching family.

The convergence of circuit and packet networks and the growth of VoIP services require media gateways that carry legacy and IP-based voice, video and data traffic. Yankee Group predicts that VoIP subscribers will grow to 17.5 million U.S. households by the end of 2008. Company research indicates that the VoIP market will contribute US$32 billion to the US$260 billion telephony market by 2009.

"Meeting H.110 data and timing requirements is key to ensuring quality of service for VoIP and other applications," said Kam Aite, product line marketing manager, Zarlink Semiconductor. "Our H.110 digital switch family integrates the industry's highest performance DPLL to attenuate jitter and eliminate data loss when circuit and packet traffic converge onto the network infrastructure. Competing devices force designers to employ an external DPLL to meet H.110 requirements, resulting in increased system costs, component count and board complexity."

Motorola media gateway platforms

Using Zarlink's H.110 TDM switches, Motorola has designed carrier-grade media processing and gateway platforms for fixed and wireless networks, enterprise/campus toll bypass gateways, digital local loop carrier and Class 5 switch replacement.

Motorola's CompactPCI packet voice resource boards (PVRB672 and PVRB384) allow equipment manufacturers to quickly enable existing or new network systems with VoIP capability. Motorola's WTRB500 is a CompactPCI media processing blade with a low-overhead framework that allows users to plug in additional resources for applications such as Push-to-Talk, satellite download and IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS).

Zarlink's MT90866 H.110 TDM switch controls the mapping of circuit switched channels on all three boards, providing local-to-local and local-to- H.110 streams in non-blocking mode with rate conversion between the backplane and local streams. These boards are already deployed and in field trials with leading telecommunications companies. For more on Motorola's packet voice resource boards, visit http://www.motorola.com/content/0,,2140,00.html

Complete H.110 TDM switching family

Zarlink's three-device H.110 digital switch includes the MT90866 with up to 4,096 x 2,432 switching channels and 2,432 x 2,432 channels local switching performance, and the new ZL50031 device with up to 4,096 x 2,048 switching channels and 2,048 x 2,048 channels local switching capability. The ZL50030 switches up to 4,096 x 2,048 channels and is cost-effective for applications requiring only 1,024 x 1,024 switching among local streams.

Integrated Stratum 4E DPLL

The MT90866 and ZL50030/1 switches feature an integrated Telcordia Stratum 4E-compliant DPLL that ensures synchronization, clock monitoring and hitless reference switching when the timing source is lost or disabled. The DPLL meets all necessary H.110 jitter and clocking mode specifications without requiring external circuitry. This reduces component count, eases board layout and lowers overall cost.

The integrated DPLL provides master/slave mode, jitter and wander attenuation from 1.52 Hz (hertz), holdover mode with 0.07 ppm (parts per million) frequency stability, and an MTIE circuit with maximum time interval error of less than 21 ns (nanoseconds) per reference switching, allowing seamless transition between the primary and secondary clock inputs.

Zarlink's TDM switches are the only devices in the industry to provide a standard H.110 interface with 32 bi-directional streams operating at 8 Mbps, with the option to run 16 bi-directional streams operating at 16 Mbps. This unique 16 Mbps mode allows designers to double the capacity of the H.110 backplane using half the streams, while maintaining all H.110 timing requirements. For equipment manufacturers not needing to meet H.110 requirements, the unique 16 Mbps mode can be used to simplify design and lower costs by reducing backplane connections.

The TDM switch family's four-in-one architecture allows simultaneous switching between backplane-to-local, local-to-backplane, backplane-to- backplane, and local-to-local. This permits system designers to flexibly accommodate a range of equipment requirements.

Support, Pricing and availability

The ZL50031 TDM switch is in volume production, supported by an evaluation board and API (application programming interface) drivers. An application note describing how to design a hot swap board using Zarlink H.110 switches is also available. Hot swap provides the ability to perform live insertion and removal of boards, without adversely affecting a running system.

The ZL50031 is offered in a lead-free 256-pin HQFP (heat spreader quad flat pack). In quantities of 1,000, the ZL50031 is priced at US$41.44. For more information, please visit http://products.zarlink.com/profiles/ZL50031 .

About Zarlink Semiconductor

For over 30 years, Zarlink Semiconductor has delivered semiconductor solutions that drive the capabilities of voice, enterprise, broadband and wireless communications. The Company's success is built on its technology strengths including voice and data networks, consumer and ultra low-power communications, and high-performance analog. For more information, visit http://www.zarlink.com/ .

Shareholders and other individuals wishing to receive, free of charge, copies of the Annual and Quarterly Reports - including the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Regulatory Authorities - should visit the Company's web site at http://www.zarlink.com/ or contact investor relations.

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, among others, the following: increasing price and product/service competition by foreign and domestic competitors, including new entrants; rapid technological developments and changes; the ability to ensure continuity of supply from outside fabrication services; changes in environmental and other domestic and foreign governmental regulations; protection and validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations; the ability of the Company to attract and retain key employees; demographic changes and other factors referenced in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 26, 2004 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 24, 2004. Investors are encouraged to consider the risks detailed in those filings.

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CONTACT: Zarlink: Ed Goffin, Media Relations, 613 270-7112,
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