Zarlink's Market Leading TDM-over-IP Packet Processors Fully Comply with Industry's First TDM-over-IP Recommendation

The ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union - Telecommunications) recently released Recommendation Y.1413 - TDM-MPLS network interworking - User plane interworking. The recommendation outlines the TDM timing, signaling, service quality and alarm integrity required when legacy voice, data and multimedia traffic is carried over an MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) network up to DS3 or E3 rates.

Zarlink's ZL50111 family of TDM-over-IP packet processors complies fully with both the Structure Aware and Structure Agnostic modes of operation outlined by Recommendation Y.1413.

Currently in full production, the three-chip ZL50111 family utilizes CESoP (Circuit Emulation Services over Packet) technology to 'tunnel' many forms of Layer 2 TDM traffic over any packet network. Zarlink's TDM-over-IP processors are simple to implement, support a wide range of services, and deliver carrier-grade quality.

Service providers are stepping up investments in PSN equipment in an effort to lower operating their costs by consolidating networks and to meet the growing demand for IP-based services, such as voice-over-packet. For example, MPLS-enabled switches are being deployed to efficiently carry all types of network traffic over a converged PSN infrastructure. However, service providers must still cost-effectively transport profitable TDM-based services, with guaranteed quality, over new PSNs.

The ZL50111 processor family fully addresses the critical timing and service quality concerns associated with TDM-over-IP technology, as outlined in the ITU-T Recommendation. To deliver carrier-grade quality, techniques are employed both within the hardware and software to ensure sub-millisecond latencies through the devices, coupled with highly accurate clock recovery and synchronization. Quality is enhanced by advanced on-chip queuing mechanisms that minimize the effects of network latency by giving time-sensitive TDM packets priority over data packets in processing queues.

"Service providers are demanding networking equipment that allows them to plan an effective migration to an all-IP network while still supporting revenue-generating legacy services," said Jeremy Lewis, product line marketing manager, Packet Processing, Zarlink Semiconductor. "The ZL50111 TDM-over-IP processors were designed with features and performance in anticipation of the industry's stringent interworking requirements."

About Zarlink Semiconductor

For almost 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/.

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 risks discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are encouraged to consider the risks detailed in those filings.

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