Conexant is sampling an ARM-based SoC (system-on-chip) for DSL gateways, bridges, and routers supporting “triple-play” (voice, video, and data) Internet services. The low-cost CX9461x SoC integrates ADSL2+, WiFi, and VoIP interfaces, and is available now in a hardware reference design said to support “industry-standard operating systems, including Linux.”

Conexant says the new CX9461x… chipset has enough processing power to support triple play services, while its low price — between $10 and $15, depending on options — suits volume deployments.

The CX9461x is based on a second-generation DSL CPE (customer premises equipment) gateway architecture, supports multiple xDSL standards, according to the company. It integrates an AFE (analog front end) and 802.11b/g MAC/baseband processor capable of interfacing with Conexant's CX50221 and CS50222 WiFi transceivers.

Other on-chip peripheral interfaces include a single 10/100 Ethernet MAC with MII, a choice between USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 OTG controllers, and a USB 2.0 ULPI interface host/device port that can be used to attach peripherals such as print servers, network attached storage, cameras, or other USB input devices, Conexant says.

Additional “advanced” features include an integrated security engine with hardware acceleration for virtual private network (VPN) applications, and integrated memory “to support the reliable delivery of IPTV programming over ADSL2plus,” according to the company.

Conexant also offers a CX9461x hardware reference design said to be fully supported under Linux, including features such as IPTV QoS (quality of service), firewalling, WiFi “Simple Config,” and DSLHome.

Akram Atallah, senior VP of Conexant's broadband access business, said, “Demand for client-side DSL products with integrated Wi-Fi and voice processing capabilities continues to grow rapidly. To meet this need, we developed the world's first semiconductor family to integrate these key broadband access and home networking technologies in a single-chip.”

IDC senior research analyst Ian Eigenbrod added, “The challenge now facing DSL service providers is how to quickly and efficiently scale triple-play gateways across a large installed customer base. Highly integrated silicon solutions will deliver the simplicity and cost-effectiveness needed, driving an almost 100 percent improvement in WLAN attach rates by the end of the year.”

Availability

Samples of the CX9461x product family are available now, with production scheduled for July 2006. In volume quantities the devices in the CX9461x family will be priced between $10.00 and $15.00 each, depending on features. Complete reference designs for rapid product prototyping are available today.

 
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