ViaSat Announces New 100G Optical Transport Forward Error Correction (FEC) Products and Digital Signal Processing Services

ECC66100 family of FEC products counters impairments for 100G optical channels

CARLSBAD, Calif., March 17, 2010-- ViaSat Inc.  is introducing a family of forward error correction (FEC) products for 100G optical transport at the OFC/NFOEC Exhibition beginning March 23 in San Diego. These FEC and digital signal processing (DSP) products, available in either FPGA or ASIC cores, can provide major cost savings over optical compensation techniques, increase optical channel capacity, and extend the range of transmission for optical cables.

As data rates increase to 100 Gbps, optical channels require a higher optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). FEC provides additional gain that helps mitigate the effects of optical channel noise. Additionally, fiber channels suffer from optical effects, such as chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization-mode dispersion (PMD), and self-phase modulation (SPM) that degrade signal quality and integrity. Digital signal processing techniques electronically compensate for these types of channel impairments.

ViaSat soft and hard decision Enhanced FECs (EFEC) exceed the performance requirements defined by the ITU-T G.709 and G.975 submarine standards for ultra-long haul (ULH) links. ECC66100 FECs increase the effective OSNR to near the fundamental limits. The products are derived from over two decades of experience in FEC and DSP engineering for the complex channel impairments encountered in satellite and terrestrial wireless communication systems.

"Optical engineers are coming to us for our expertise in FEC and DSP design to combat channel impairments, which are similar, but actually less complex than what we encounter with satellite and other wireless channels," said Russell Fuerst, VP and general manager for IP and ASICs at ViaSat. "Our customers further benefit from our ability to customize our FEC and DSP cores to match their specific system requirements."  

The ECC66100 FEC IP cores as well as custom DSP services are available today. Pricing and customization charges are available upon request by contacting Jim Keszenheimer, ViaSat business development manager at 216-706-7800.

ECC66100 Demo at OFC/NFOEC 2010

ViaSat will exhibit in booth #3318 at OFC/NFOEC 2010, March 23-25 in San Diego, CA. Showcased in the booth will be a live demo of ViaSat FEC IP core and hardware products.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to virtually any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. government; is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services; and owns WildBlue, the premier Ka-band satellite broadband service provider. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat is based in Carlsbad, CA, has major locations in Duluth, GA, Germantown, MD (Comsat Laboratories), and Greenwood Village, CO (WildBlue), along with additional field offices and service centers worldwide.