Altera's Stratix IV GT FPGA Selected by NEC for Use in Advanced 100G Transponder Card for DWDM System

Industry's Only FPGA Shipping with Integrated 11.3-Gbps Transceivers Enables NEC to Transmit Multiple High-Speed Optical Signals at Record Data Rate Speeds

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 1,2010 -- Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) today announced its high-performance Stratix® IV GT FPGAs featuring integrated 11.3-Gbps transceivers were selected by NEC Corporation for use in a 100G transponder card for its Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) system, one of the most advanced DWDM systems in the world.

NEC's 100G transponder card for DWDM systems successfully achieved and demonstrated the ability to carry native 100-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) data traffic with real-time operation. The 100G transponder card leverages multiple Stratix IV GT FPGAs and Stratix IV GX FPGAs to perform OTN framer functions including an 11.2-Gbps SFI-S and a 10.3-Gbps CAUI-MLD interface.

Recognized as the next step in Ethernet evolution, 100 GbE is capable of carrying large amounts of traffic generated by emerging Internet Protocol (IP) applications such as peer-to-peer video, Web 2.0, and bandwidth-intensive services in the broadcast, communications, medical and military markets. Deployment of 100-GbE-based DWDM systems is expected to begin in 2011 to support the increase in traffic growth.

"In setting out to build a 100G transponder card for our DWDM system, it was determined that Altera's Stratix IV GT FPGA was the only chip available that allowed us to develop and demonstrate 100-GbE traffic transmissions," said Nobuhiro Kawahara, senior expert, NEC Corporation. "Our system requirements were aggressive and Stratix IV GT FPGAs provided us with the density, performance and embedded transceiver speeds we required. As a result, we were able to easily integrate the devices into our advanced DWDM system and achieve some of the highest data rate speeds ever recorded."

"Stratix IV GT devices were designed specifically for 100G systems to support the rapid growth in network traffic being driven by Internet and IP-based services and applications. We have experienced huge success with the adoption of Stratix IV GT FPGAs in the industry with nearly all of the top DWDM suppliers selecting the device for their 100G systems," said Arun Iyengar, senior director of Altera's communications business unit. "Using Stratix IV GT FPGAs, NEC is able to meet their stringent design requirements, while at the same time reduce their system power and minimize board complexity."

About Stratix IV GT FPGAs

Stratix IV GT FPGAs are optimized specifically for the latest generation of 40G and 100G applications used in communications systems, high-end test equipment and military communications systems. The 11.3-Gbps integrated transceivers featured in the Stratix IV GT FPGA provide customers a true single-FPGA 100G solution, enabling 100G optical modules to interface directly with the FPGA. Stratix IV GT FPGAs provide up to 530K logic elements (LEs), 20.3-Mbits internal RAM and 1,288 18x18 multipliers.

Availability

Stratix IV GT FPGAs are currently shipping. For more information on the devices, contact your local Altera sales representative or visit www.altera.com/pr/stratix4. To view a white paper that highlights how Altera's FPGAs enable 40G/100G applications, visit http://www.altera.com/literature/wp/wp-01080-stratix-iv-gt-40g-100g.pdf.

About Altera

Altera® programmable solutions enable system and semiconductor companies to rapidly and cost-effectively innovate, differentiate and win in their markets. Find out more about Altera's FPGA, CPLD and ASIC devices at www.altera.com.